Green day

Navigating Tulsa’s St. Patrick’s Day celebrations

St. Patrick’s Day is here once again, and what better way to celebrate the man who drove the pagan druids out of Ireland than to gather in droves, imbibe green concoctions, and dance under the light of the waning moon. Sláinte!

Paddy’s Irish Restaurant in South Tulsa will get the festivities started for the weekend. For their first St. Pat’s since the restaurant was revived last year after nearly a decade, Paddy’s is going big with a two-day party starting on Thursday, March 16, with an outdoor tent with live music, authentic Irish food and drink, and a countdown to midnight, when St. Paddy’s Day 2017 will be officially under way.

For the greenest way to celebrate, Tulsa Botanic Garden’s Good, Green Fun offers crafts, activities, and fun for the whole family Friday and Saturday, featuring live Irish music from Frank Smreker and Timothy O’Brian’s Celtic Cheer.

At some point in holiday history, St. Pat’s became synonymous with street parties, and Tulsa offers several options this year. 

Kilkenny’s Irish Pub will hold their annual all-day Block Party on Cherry Street, with live music from the Tulsa Metro Pipe Band and others, face painting, a kids’ tent, plenty of beer and some of the tastiest Irish food in town.

George’s Pub in Jenks is hosting its 6th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Bash, with an outdoor stage and special menu. Nearby, FlyingTee will host a free St. Pat’s-themed photo scavenger hunt along the Riverwalk.

The main event is Downtown in the Blue Dome District, where three parties merge into Tulsa’s biggest street party of the year, which will span two days this year, making it bigger than ever. Friday and Saturday, three Blue Dome bars will have outdoor stages and more green food coloring than you can imagine: 

Arnie’s Bar’s 61st Annual St. Patrick’s Day Celebration will feature traditional Irish folk music from Cairde na Gael, Larkin, Kilkenny Road, and more, as well as some of Tulsa’s favorite food trucks.

James E. McNellie’s Public House will have the outdoor Alleyway Sports Bar, live music and dancing on the Guinness Gig Rig, and the 2nd annual Corned-Off competition to find out which Tulsa chef makes the best corned beef.

Woody’s Corner Bar will have DJs spinning inside, while 80s Enuff and Replay play retro hits on an outdoor stage.

You’ll also find live music and events both nights at Blue Dome venues nearby, such as local comedian Rick Shaw’s St. Party’s Day throwdown at the Comedy Parlor or DJs Robbo and Ali Shaw spinning up some nostalgia at The Max Retropub. Add to that plenty of green beer (and better, not-green beer for that matter) and thousands of basketball fans in town for the weekend, and you’ve got a party that simply should not be missed.

Route 66 Harley-Davidson will keep the celebrations going on Saturday with their 6th Annual St. Paddy’s Day Biker Bash, featuring live music, Irish food, dollar beers, giveaways, and the traditional St. Patrick’s Day burnout contest, just like in the motherland.

LIVE MUSIC

If you’re looking to cut a rug to some somewhat less traditional music on St. Patrick’s Day, there are options aplenty all over Tulsa:

At Soundpony, a group of local musicians led by Mitch Gilliam of Lizard Police will pay tribute to one of the greatest bands to have ever hailed from Ireland, Thin Lizzy. 
A blowout at Mercury Lounge will feature Chicago’s Bleach Party, as well as locals The Fabulous Minx, The Grits, Brandon Clar, Dance Monkey Dance, and Tulsa Pipes and Drums.
Minneapolis’s The Coax, Masterhand and Teenage Self, both from OKC, and Mr. and the Mrs. from Lawrence, will play with locals La Panther Happens, The Socs, Sweet Ultra, a solo set from The Girls Room, and Dylan Harris at The Yeti.
Fayetteville’s Vintage Pistol will play at The Fur Shop with locals T.F.M. and Irish music from Finnegan’s Awake.
Not In Public, Trip C, Had Enough, Chris Coast, Pollo The Thrill, and The Anevaylien at White Crow Tavern. 
Travis Fite plays at Soul City’s Soulful St. Paddy’s. 
The Beaten Daylights at Beehive Lounge.
The Brothers Moore at The Hunt Club.
That One Band at Crystal Skull.
Bottoms Up Band and special guests at Lennie’s Club & Grill.
​DarkuJ at Fassler Hall.
DJ Demko will spin for Enso Bar’s St. Patrick’s Day Disco Party.
DJ Mikey Bee at Legends Dance Hall.
DJ Phluf at Electric Circus. 

For more music on St. Patrick’s Day, see our event listings.