via Flickr
Update, March 11, 10:06 p.m.:
According to The St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Dogtown has also canceled its St. Patrick's Day parade.
Update, March 11, 8:03 p.m.:
The Cottleville Shamrock Run & Parade has been canceled for fear of spreading coronavirus, or COVID-19. There are no confirmed cases in St. Charles. The Cottleville Firefighters Outreach said it would be in contact with runners and sponsors soon.
Update, March 11, 5:55 p.m:
The Metropolitan St. Louis St. Patrick's Day Parade Committee has announced that due to coronavirus concerns, it is postponing its run and parade in downtown St. Louis until later this year.
Original story:
Depending on who you ask, St. Patrick’s Day is the finest festival of the year around here. (Mardi Gras who?) We’ve got a wide array of Irish pubs to tipple in all year ‘round, and more Irish dance schools than you can shake a ghillie at. You even have your pick of parades. Despite coronavirus canceling other St. Pat's celebrations across the country, St. Louis' are still scheduled as of Wednesday. And while the actual Feast of St. Patrick isn’t until next Tuesday, there’ll be plenty of wearin’ o’ the green this weekend. Here are a few best bets.
Downtown
Saturday, noon
The city’s big parade draws upwards of 350,000 people, rain or shine, to take in more than 5,000 marchers and 120 floats, balloons, and bands. This year’s honorary marshal is Dennis Jenkerson, the St. Louis City fire chief and commissioner. If you feel like getting off to a spritely start before the parade’s noon kickoff, join the 5-mile or 3-kilometer race beforehand. Sunday, the parade committee will attend Mass at St. John the Apostle downtown, and heat to brunch at the Ballpark Hilton—brunch tickets are $35.
Cottleville Shamrock Run & Parade
Cottlevile
Saturday, 11:30 a.m.
If downtown’s not your style, head a bit west for the festivities in Cottleville. The city’s fire department sponsors a parade that holds its own against any bigger ones. Before the parade kicks off, you can join a 5K race ($40) along a gorgeous route past a park, stream, and lakes—and if you’re 21 or older, a frosty beverage awaits at the finish line. Fastest male, female, and wheelchair finishers get a coveted green fire helmet.
The Ready Room
Saturday, 7 p.m.
Shane MacGowan may get all the attention from people who only know Celtic punk legends The Pogues from their Christmas hit “Fairytale of New York.” But Spider Stacy has been in the band as long as there’s been a band, and Cait O’Riordan was there at the outset in the early 80s. The two of them, backed by the Lost Bayou Ramblers, will run through the Pogues classic catalog Saturday at the Ready Room. Tickets are $35, $40 day of.
St. Patrick’s Day Recovery Brunch
Sunday, 1–3 p.m.
If you Erin go Bragh’d a little too hard Saturday night, a riverboat cruise might not be your first thought for getting your sea legs back, but it’s actually a great idea—brunch foods and hair of the dog in a unique setting has to be good for what ails you. Scones, biscuits, bangers, cabbage, corned beef hash, and more on the buffet—you’ll be right as rain in no time. There’s a cash bar if the single included mimosa or bloody Mary doesn’t quite cut it. Tickets are $48.
AOH St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Dogtown
Tamm Avenue
Tuesday, 11 a.m.
If ever there was a reason to take a personal day from work (maybe two days, depending on how hard you plan on partying), it’s this. Dogtown is the city’s traditionally Irish neighborhood, and this parade is sponsored by the Ancient Order of Hibernians—and if you can read that name without hearing “Danny Boy” in your head, well, we feel sorry for you. It’s a full day of festivities, starting with the parade at 11.
