Cincinnati may have a strong German heritage, but we’d be remiss if we didn’t celebrate St. Patrick’s Day as vehemently as we do Oktoberfest.
St. Patrick’s Day 2020 was sullied by the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, but 2021 is looking up with a solid list of ways to celebrate.
We rounded up 17 of the best options (Contact event organizers for COVID-19 protocols):
Saturday, March 13
Celebrate in Washington Park this Saturday at the Porch by PPG paints. They will be open 11 a.m.-8 p.m. with beer, wine, seltzer and drink specials, including everyone’s favorite Irish brew, Guinness. The park is perfect for socially distant fun and a cold drink on a nice day with festive decorations and music.
For those looking for a more active St. Patrick’s Day option, Fifty West Brewing Co. is hosting a St. Patrick’s Day Fun Run with Fleet Feet this year. The run starts at 10:30 a.m. at the Beer Garden, with the route leading runners down the Little Miami Scenic Trail. Irish food and beer at Fifty West will welcome you back at the end of the race. Registration is free, but RSVP’s are required.
Humble Monk Brewing Co. is putting on an all-day celebration on Saturday, March 13 with a Lil’ Bunz food pop-up. At 11 a.m., the event will begin with a “Blessing of the Beer,” Irish piper and dancer. You can reserve a spot during the 11 a.m.-4 p.m., 4-7 p.m. and 7-11 p.m. time slots. There is a $6 fee, which can be used toward the purchase of a beer.
If you’re not up for a 5K, you can join a sand volleyball tournament at Setters Cincy 2-11:30 p.m. this Saturday. All teams should wear green for the indoor/outdoor tournament. There will be free pizza for each team, and it’s $25 per player.
After Love on the Levee for Valentine’s Day, it only makes sense that Luck on the Levee would be the next iteration for St. Patrick’s Day. Newport on the Levee is hosting Luck on the Levee this Saturday starting at 3 p.m. with themed food and beverages at the Bridgeview Box Park. Guests are encouraged to wear green and Irish jig the day away.
Tuesday, March 16
Red Dog Cincinnati is putting on a St. Patrick’s Day event for you and your furry friend this year. St. Puptrick’s Day is a safe, drive-thru event with goodie bags, local vendors and the chance to win a $50 Red Dog gift card. If you purchase a bottle of Tail Ale Doggie Beer, the proceeds will be donated to the Animal Adoption Foundations. Founders include Fido’s Freezzy’s, Pugalicious Pet Treats and You to the Rescue.
Wednesday, March 17
The Irish Heritage Center of Cincinnati is hosting a more traditional St. Patrick’s Day event this year. Starting at 2 p.m. on the 17th with Irish Mass, there will be music, singing, dancing, acting and more. Tickets for members are $10 and $15 for non-members and guests. Reservations are required.
St Patrick’s Day at Molly Malone’s
Molly Malone’s Irish Pub in Covington will be opening early on St. Patrick’s Day at 7 a.m. for “kegs n eggs.” The first 100 guests will receive a free t-shirt. There will be live music by Liam’s Fancy, Grey Dogs, Lost Celts and Easter Rising, with pipers and Irish dancers making stops throughout the day. Tickets are $10, and reservations must be made online. There will be a 2.5 hour limit on parties with all three floors open at a 150-person total occupancy.
Cincinnati Tin Roof is celebrating St. Patrick’s Day this year with green clothing, live music and Irish beer. The fun starts at noon March 17. Joey Fulton will be performing with the Sean Fitzpatric Trio beginning at 3 p.m. and Dueling Pianos wrapping up the day at 7 p.m.
St. Patrick’s Day with Sycamore Professional Firefighters Local 3907
March First Brewing will be hosting the Sycamore Professional Firefighters Local 3907 on St. Patrick’s Day. One dollar of each pint sold will go to the Muscular Dystrophy Association, a charity that March First Brewing and the firefighters work closely with. March First will be open 11:30 a.m. to midnight, with the firefighters in the taproom from 5 p.m. to close.
The Splatter Room Cincy, the newest iteration from OTR Escape where guests can fling paint at blank canvases, will be having a St. Patrick’s Day special. You can come and make messy art at a reduced rate of $25 per painter, but only green and white paint will be provided. Don’t forget that The Splatter Room is BYOB, making for a great St. Patty’s Day.
CinCity Harley-Davidson on Tennessee Ave will be hosting a St. Patty’s Celebration this year from 5-8 p.m. Green beer, Guinness and Irish food will be available at the event. There is no cost for admission.
Higher Gravity in Northside will be hosting two rounds of St. Patty’s Day, with the first beginning at noon March 17 and the second beginning at 11 a.m. March 20. $4 green pints of Higher Gravity’s house blonde ale, Lo-G, $4 Guinness pints and $4 Jameson shots will be available. Food options are in the works.
St. Patrick’s Day at Big Ash Brewing
Big Ash Brewing is celebrating St. Patty’s Day with live music by the Harry Pedigo Trio and green beer, Irish car bombs and 28 taps for you to pour your own beer. The festivities begin at noon and do not require a reservation. Table reservations can be made for live music only.
Pearl’s St. Patrick’s Day Party
Pearl’s in Columbia Tusculum is ringing in St. Patrick’s Day with $8 pints of Guinness and a shot of Jameson, $7 Irish car bombs, $6 Irish breakfast shots, $5 mini beers and $12 domestic buckets. There will be complimentary pizza at 2 and 4 p.m. with Chandler Carter playing live music 6-9 p.m.
St. Patrick’s Day Pub Crawl in the BED
The Bellevue Entertainment District (BED) is hosting a St. Patrick’s Day Pub Crawl from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Kegs and eggs will start the day off at 7 a.m., and you can carry your drink in an official BED cup from bar to bar. Participating bars include Darkness Brewing, Three Spirits Tavern, Danyelle’s Bellevue Tavern, Nomad and the B-List.
This article appears in Best Of Cincinnati 2021.