Best of Luck

There's no wrong way to celebrate St. Patrick's Day

About 1600 years ago, St. Patrick died on March 17. If that isn’t a good enough reason to take to the streets and pinch people for their wardrobe choices, then, frankly, we’re not sure what is. You don’t have to be Irish or Catholic to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, you just have to wear green and be ready for a good time. 

Start celebrating on the right foot
To pre-empt some of your less-healthy traditions, start the festivities early at the annual St. Patrick’s Day Run on Saturday morning, March 12 on Brookside. Each year, thousands of people participate in the 5K and Fun Run, which benefit Special Olympics Oklahoma. The accompanying costume contest is the place to see the latest trends in green before the big day.

Seriously, wear green
“You see, there’s one green line for every eight red and white lines in the plaid on my shirt, so you shouldn’t really have pinched me…” Don’t be this guy. St. Patrick didn’t drive all the snakes out of Ireland by pointing out weaving intricacies. He did so by wearing a green so bright the serpents were blinded into submission. I may have made that last part up, but the point is this tradition, like basically everything about this holiday, is fun. Nobody likes a stick in the mud. One of my most memorable St. Paddy’s celebrations was at a midday Snoop Dogg show in Dallas, and you can bet The Doggfather was wearing green. No one pinches Snoop. But even if there’s not one square inch of green cloth in your closet, chances are you’ll find pinch protection in the form of a plastic shamrock necklace or the green beer dribbling down your front.

Options galore
It’s a good problem to have. And there’s no need to relegate yourself to one place. Just remember, party hoppers, Uber is your friend.

Want to try something new and ridiculous this year?
They’ll put Lucky Charms in your Guinness at Baker St. Pub. Breakfast of champions with live music by Imzadi.

Are you a Corned Beef connoisseur? 
As part of its street party, McNellie’s is holding a corned beef contest from noon to 2 p.m., pitting chefs from SMOKE. On Cherry Street, R Bar & Grill, The Chalkboard, Fat Guy’s Burger Bar, The Tavern, Laffa, Fassler Hall, JTR Group, and more against each other to decide who cooks it best. For $1 ($12 not in advance) sample all of the competitors and vote for your favorite.

Want to take part in a new tradition? 
Attend the inaugural family-friendly St. Patrick’s Day Parade, benefitting homeless veterans, in the Blue Dome District at 1 p.m. on 2nd Street, just west of Arnie’s street party. (More on that later.)

Fancy perusing art with a green beer in hand? 
Local artists will be displaying and selling works at ShamROCK the Rose on March 12th in Broken Arrow starting at 4 p.m. The Rose District’s street party will have live music on an outdoor stage, a craft beer garden, and discounts in many of the district’s businesses.

After their rockin’ Halloween, New Years, and Mardi Gras shows, do you now consider Count Tutu an integral part of holiday celebrations? 
They’ll be throwing down the groove you seek at The Venue Shrine.

Looking for the bass drop? 
DJ Kylie and Darku J will be at Electric Circus and Enso, respectively.

Care to dance a jig? 
​Finnegans Awake will play at the Fur Shop from 5:30 to 9 p.m. Arnie’s will host its 60th St. Patrick’s Day Celebration with Irish music all day, including Larkin and Cairde na Gael and more. They will also have giveaways every hour and some of the city’s best food trucks on site.

Maybe you want to hear something with sounds a little closer to home.
At McNellie’s from 5 to 10 p.m., catch Wink Burcham & Jacob Tovar, Stone Trio, Pilgrim and a family jam with Paul Benjaman Band on the Guinness Gig Rig. McNellie’s street party will also feature a pop-up sports bar with March Madness games showing on big screens, Hot Shot games, and new beers from Marshall Brewing.

Got work on Friday?
Start early. McNellie’s opens at 10 a.m., Arnie’s street party starts at 11 a.m., both early enough to make it the happiest happy hour of the year.

Don’t have work on Friday?
You’ve got the pot of gold. Head to Kilkenny’s and nurse your hangover with a Breakfast Boxty.

Finally, keep the party going.
The best thing about a holiday landing on a weekday is that the party continues through the weekend. St. Pat’s - Round two is The Brady Arts District’s Shamrock Pub Crawl. Starting at 3 p.m. on Saturday, March 19, find games, drink specials, food, and frivolity at Caz’s, Soundpony, Yeti, The Hunt Club, Bar 46, Inner Circle, Classic Cigars, and the Rusty Crane. It could be your last chance to drink green beer until next year.