As we wave farewell to winter, we welcome spring with outdoor celebrations of Irish heritage. Traditionally, St. Paddy’s day is a huge celebration of all things Irish from food and drink to music and dance, with no shortage of fun in the Annapolis area.
Whether you’re going out with friends to some of the city’s best Irish bars or taking the kids to some live music, there’s plenty of events to celebrate the emerald isles this month in Annapolis.
If you missed the Annapolis St. Patrick’s Day parade on the 5th, there’s still time to catch one of the area’s biggest parades. A short drive away in Washington DC, there’s a massive St. Patrick’s Day parade that has become a great family tradition for Annapolis families. There’s tons of floats, bands, and dancers marching through the city in full Irish spirit. Local parade sponsors also host gatherings at their venues if you’re looking to keep the party going.
With DC less than an hour away, Shamrock Fest is one of the area’s premier celebrations for St. Patrick’s Day. This street festival hosts live music, food vendors, carnival rides and games for the whole family to enjoy. Children under 12 can enjoy free admission and a VIP ticket will keep your souvenir pint glass full all day. Fest-goers are clad in crazy outfits and green head to toe, making this a truly unforgettable event.
Annapolis started Maryland’s St. Paddy’s Day celebrations early this year, but the party doesn’t stop there. The parade in nearby Baltimore is always a sight to see where families from surrounding cities wear their Irish pride on their sleeves decked out in green, white and orange. The parade marches to a bustling hub of excitement with food vendors, live Irish music and so much more.
The legend says that St. Patrick banished all the snakes out of Ireland and Baltimore is taking the opportunity to celebrate snakes! The Lake Roland Nature Council put together snake crafts to celebrate the snakes that call the lake home. Kids can learn about snake species in the area by meeting some snakes up close in personal! This is definitely a fun activity that benefits a good cause to check out if you’re traveling to Baltimore for the big parade.