Grab your green attire and hit the city streets for a Chicago-style St. Patrick’s Day celebration. Paired with the green Chicago River, there’s no better place to celebrate the holiday than in the Windy City. Enjoy the specials below, and check out Concierge’s list of favorite Chicago Irish Pubs.
ACTIVITIES
The famous St. Patrick’s Chicago tradition continues this year for the 63rd time. The river dyeing will precede the St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Saturday, March 16 at 10:00 a.m. The Chicago Plumbers Union, Chicago Journeymen Plumbers Local 130, will take to boats to dye the Chicago River a true emerald green with 100 pounds of environmentally friendly dye. While the lower Riverwalk will be closed for the spectacle, along the river between State and Columbus is a prime spot to watch.
Following the river dyeing, the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade will begin at 12:15 a.m. One of the largest St. Patrick’s Day parades in the country, the procession will take place on Columbus Drive from Balbo Drive to Monroe Drive. In its 69th year, don’t miss The Shannon Rovers Irish Pipe Band, the city’s premier Irish band, kilts, Irish dancing, and bagpipes.
At the Irish Heritage Center, enjoy the best of Irish culture in literature, events, food, and music. This week, you can enjoy one of the many Irish events the Heritage Center has to offer, including Thursday Night Music Sessions, Friday Fish Fry, and The Great Irish Book Club on Saturday afternoons. This weekend, the Irish Heritage Center is hosting their annual St. Patrick’s Fest after the parade. Join for traditional and contemporary Irish dance, music, food, and fun.
Enjoy Irish music, bagpipers, and dancers at the Emerald Loop, steps away from the green Chicago River and the parade. Green beer, Irish food, and gallons of Guinness will be served on top of authentic Irish atmosphere.
On Saturday March 16, brace yourself for 12 hours of continues St Patrick’s Day fun at Theater on the Lake, starting at 11 am. Enjoy live music, food and drink specials and more! Invite your friends for a fun all day gathering in our completely renovated venue. Celebrate while enjoying beautiful lakefront and skyline views. The music line up at Theater on the Lake includes these toe tapping performances:
Sullivan Brothers 12pm-2:30pm
In Spite of Ourselves 3pm-6pm
Whiskey Mick 3pm-6:00pm
David Dunne 6:00pm-8:00pm
The Shannon Rovers will be stopping by for a visit as well!
$10 cover charge at the door. No tickets needed. Kids 12 and under free.
Questions? Email info@theateronthelake.com or call 312-414-1313
On Sunday March 17th, head to the Lakefront Restaurant for a delicious St. Patrick’s Day dinner and live music from The Chancey Brothers. Doors open at 4 PM, with the live music kicking off at 4:30 PM and continuing until 7 PM. Indulge in delicious Irish dinner specials, ranging from Irish classics to twists on favorite dishes, alongside regular menu offerings. It’s the perfect way to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in style!
On Sunday, March 10, from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m., enjoy the St. Patrick’s Day Family Fun Kick-Off Event at WhirlyBall. For $20 for kids and $30 for adults, enjoy no-limit play, including games like WhirlyBall, LaserTag, and Bowling. You’ll also enjoy the buffet and other pop-up activities.
Enjoy the festive green Chicago River with a private cruise party by Chicago Electric Boats. For $304 per hour, rent a private boat and enjoy a trip down the water with twelve of your closest friends. For St. Patrick’s Day only, boats with up to six passengers will have an expert Chicago Electric Boat captain so you can relax and enjoy. Email rentme@chicagoelectricboats.com to book your reservation.
With City Cruises Chicago, enjoy a Premier Plus Brunch Cruise on the green Chicago River or a Signature Lunch Cruise on Lake Michigan. On both cruises, enjoy views of the Willis Tower, Navy Pier, and the Adler Planetarium. Enjoy brunch specials, bottomless mimosas, architectural narration, and DJ entertainment on the Premier Plus Brunch Cruise. On the Signature Lunch Cruise, enjoy a buffet meal, green beer, live DJ, dancing, and festive games.
For discounted tickets, book your cruise on Lake Michigan through Bucket Listers for 10% off. With cruise options March 15 through 17, enjoy Instagram-worthy views of the skyline, iconic landmarks, the harbor and more; live DJ music; three floors of fun, two of them indoor and climate-controlled; fully stocked bars; dancing; and a photo contest on Facebook and Instagram.
FOOD & DRINK
From March 13 to 17, celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with a specially curated menu and Irish drinks at Old Town Pour House. Enjoy the Shepherd’s Pie Flatbread, Pastrami Reuben, or Irish Mac N’ Cheese. For drinks, try the Jameson Honey Mule, Lucky Grasshopper, or a variety of Guinness blends.
Owners Amy and Clodagh Lawless are both from Galway, Ireland, so they love to bring Irish cheer to The Dearborn restaurant. With other food and drink specials from March 14 through 17, The Dearborn is partnering with Teeling Irish Whiskey to introduce a special Irish-themed cocktail. Stop by for swag, Guinness deals, “face in paint” beer painting, and giveaways. Make your reservation on Tock.
From March 11 to 15, Taureaux Tavern has a mouth-watering Irish meal pairing. Celebrate the holiday with their “Patty Daddy” cocktail and Corned Beef Sandwich. With a fruity base of maraschino cherry and melon, the cocktail balances the savory corned beef and sauerkraut.
Frontier is stacking the weekend with St. Patrick’s Day fun. Make a reservation for St. Patrick’s Day Brunch from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 16 for $39 per person for any brunch item. You can also enjoy a Hair of the Dog St. Patrick’s Day Brunch on Sunday from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Enjoy $8 Wheatley Vodka Bloody Marys, $8 Bushmills Irish Coffee, $25 select craft beer pitchers, and more.
PUBLICAN QUALITY MEATS, THE PUBLICAN, & PUBLICAN QUALITY BREAD
Between 11:00 a.m. and 7:00 pm. on March 15 through 17, order your own corned beef dish to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. For $17, enjoy a sandwich of corned beef on fresh rye with tangy homemade mustard. Make your to-go order on Toast.
Make St. Patrick’s Day brunch reservations between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. on March 16 and 17 at The Publican at Fulton Market. Enjoy corned beef hash, Shepherd’s pie, and The Publican special of $2-a-shuck oysters. Pair with a Tullamore Dew Irish whiskey or classic stout. Make your brunch reservations on OpenTable.
Publican Quality Bread invited you to embrace the Irish spirit with traditional soda bread. Made with baking soda to leaven the bread instead of yeast, this crumbly bread follows the Irish baking tradition. Between 7:00 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. on March 16 and 17, stop by Pelican Quality Bread to pick up your soda bread and place your order on Tock.
On March 16 and 17 from 11:00 p.m. until close, take a break from St. Patrick’s celebrations at the Bar Pendry. Enjoy a decadent corned beef sandwich special, served on toasted pumpernickel with tangy Patty’s sauce and pickled bean sprouts, paired with a side of crispy fries. Try an Irish whiskey flight of 3-ounce pours of Jameson IPA Edition, Yellow Spot and Proper 12.
For an on-the-go St. Paddy’s treat, try the Dubliner sandwich at Hannah’s Bretzel. Made with artisan corned beef, a juniper-Guinness glaze, Nina’s authentic bavarian sauerkraut, and house-made horseradish dressing on an organic bretzel baguette, this sandwich will be available all of March.
Stan’s Donuts are the perfect festive treat to share this month. From March 6 through 17, enjoy four St. Patrick’s favorites, the Emerald Chocolate Dipped, Shamrock Sprinkled, Irish Cream Bismark and Cookies & Cream Mint Donut made with OREO.
To celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, Three Dots and a Dash is launching a new cocktail, which takes a lucky twist on a tropical favorite. Three Dots and a Dash makes the Jameson Mai Tai with Jameson Irish Whiskey, lime juice, homemade almond orgeat, and dry curacao. The Jameson Mai Tai will be available from March 16 to 17 at Three Dots and a Dash.
Hampton Social is serving a special greenzFrosé beverage this St. Patrick’s Day. Made with Tito’s vodka, rosé wine, and peach purée, this beverage is available at Hampton Social for $17.
Starting at just $5, visit the Charm’d Bar any time until March 24 for themed St. Patrick’s Day drinks. General admission includes a welcome shot, but you can also book a table for parties of two or four. These packages include a welcome shot and cocktail for each person plus an appetizer for the table. Come to the Charm’d Bar for Irish-inspired cocktails like the Irish Whiskey Flight and Smokey Clover.
PARTIES
Along with menu and cocktail specials, Raised will host a River Dyeing Celebration on March 16 from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. Enjoy the view with a glass of green beer, mimosa, Bloody Mary, or cocktail. With live music, Raised will also serve a buffet of Irish breakfast and lunch items such as Luck of the Irish Sliders, Oilibhéar Cod, and Banger Skewer. The Two-Hour Package is $150 per person, and the Three-Hour Package is $175 per person.
Bodega Taqueria y Tequila will be filled with Irish whiskey, cocktail specials, and live DJ sets this St. Patrick’s weekend. Enjoy $6 green beer, $7 green tea and tequila shots, and $8 green margaritas at both locations. The West Loop will also offer $7 Teelings, $7 Patron shots. The West Loop location’s hours will be extended from 11:00 a.m. to 3 a.m. and the River North location will be open early at 7:00 a.m. on March 16. Normal hours will resume on March 17.
Join the St. Patrick’s party on the LondonHouse outdoor rooftop. Enjoy the Chicago views while sipping on green beer or creative cocktails at the open bar, and grab a delicious breakfast bite before hitting the dance floor with a live DJ. Tickets start at $200 and come with complimentary St. Patrick’s Day swag.
It’s time for the 16th Annual Get Sham-ROCKED party at Hard Rock Chicago. At this party, you’ll enjoy live music by The Hat Guys & The Shannon Rovers, green beer, Lucky Charm treats, and more. There is a $5 suggested donation to My Block, My Hood, My City, but the event is free.
Make your way to The Godfrey rooftop bar for beer, mimosas, Bloody Marys, and a breakfast buffet on March 16 from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. With a view of the shimmering green water of the Chicago River and dazzling skyline, purchase a ticket for The Godfrey celebration here.
From the start of the month until March 17, LG’s Bar & Kitchen is serving Irish-inspired dinner specials such as Corned Beef Hot Pocket, Corned Beef Hush Puppies, Shepherd’s Pie, and Potato & Leek Soup. Friday, March 15 is their Kick-Off Party with a live DJ starting at 9:00 p.m. Enjoy the St. Patrick’s Day Parade festivities with LG’s Bar & Kitchen ticketed event, with a food buffet and beer. Try a Hair of the Dog Brunch on St. Patrick’s Day with Irish-themed brunch options. After 2:00 p.m., enjoy the Irish-inspired dinner specials again.
At Lottie’s Pub, find a wide variety of ways to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day all week long. On March 11, try your hand at Pot of Gold Trivia at 7:00 p.m. and enjoy holiday-themed drinks. Buy a beer and a personalized print with the Guinness Ripple Machine on March 12 starting at 6:00 p.m. Enter in a Guinness Gear Giveaway on March 14 while sampling Guinness and Tullamore Dew. Purchase a St. Paddy’s Day Brunch Package for Saturday, March 16 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. for $40 a person. Enjoy St. Paddy’s Day Happy Hour on the holiday itself, March 17. Lottie’s Pub will offer $5 Leprechaun Mimosas and all day specials in $6 22 oz Green Beer Mugs. If you stick around long enough on Sunday, you can join the March Madness Selection.
ST. PADDY’S KEGS & EGGS AT MILLENNIUM HALL
From 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on March 16, enjoy a full breakfast buffet with green beer at Millennium Hall. For $30, ticket holders receive exclusive entry to the party and two green beers. For the drink and food package for $75, guests will have access to the breakfast buffet as well. Right in the middle of the famous parade route, Millennium Hall is the location to party Saturday morning. All food and drink can be purchased a la carte after 1:00 p.m.
RIVER NORTH LUCKY CHARMS BAR CRAWL
Enjoy music, drink, food, and nightlife at the best price. Starting at now $15 a person, previously $20, take a trip around River North to end your St. Patrick’s Day celebrations. On Sunday, March 17, from 12:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., check in at Head Quarters Beercade with your wristband and begin the crawl. While supplies last, all tickets include a free Lucky Charms T-Shirt; St Patrick’s Day Sunglasses, beads, and swag; entry for up to five or more venues; up to 40% off drink specials; bars with $8 cocktail, $7 shots and $6 beers; prizes and giveaways; a detailed map of all participating venues.
SHAMROCK 2024! AT HOUSE OF BLUES
With general admission at just $6 per person, join the party starting at 8:00 a.m. on Saturday, March 16 at House of Blues. The event will have pints, partying, live music, and green beer throughout the venue to keep the party going all day. The entertainment lineup includes Hello Weekend, Too Much Molly Band, and DJ Lee Powers. Buy your tickets to get ShamROCKed.
