St. Patrick’s Day falls on a Monday this year, but that’s no excuse not to party (preferably with a pint of Guinness in hand). Some events take place the weekend prior, and certain venues will host multi-day festivities — but no matter where you go, don’t forget to wear green.
Bellingham’s annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade is your best bet for celebrating with kids. From businesses and nonprofits to homemade floats, all family-friendly, apolitical groups are welcome to join in the procession. This year’s event is at noon on Sunday, March 16 and, as always, is dedicated to local safety personnel. (Fun fact: In 2024, Lt. Claudia Murphy of the Bellingham Police Department, was the parade’s first-ever Irish-born grand marshal.)
After the parade, folks are invited to head straight to Boundary Bay Brewery for an all-ages afterparty. Bands including Cape Flattery and The Devillies will be playing in the taproom all day long, whereas Lindsey Street and The Moving Hats perform directly after the parade in the beer garden. Patrons can also enjoy dancing, classic Irish food and no shortage of craft beer.
On the subject of Boundary Bay: 2025 is your last chance to celebrate St. Patty’s at the iconic brewery. As such, Boundary is going all-out on Monday, March 17 with all-day music and the Penk O’Donnell Irish dancers performing in the taproom and bistro. Festivities culminate in the beer garden at 7 p.m. with The Dublin Letters’ rousing Irish Ballads. Reservations are strongly recommended.
Conversely, this is Uisce’s first St. Patrick’s Day celebration in their new location, so you can bet they’re also going all-out. Uisce — aka the “Irish embassy of Bellingham” — will keep the party rolling all weekend long, beginning Saturday, March 15. Expect extended hours on Sunday, live music and plentiful pints of Guinness. Details are still being announced; check Uisce’s website for more info.
As far as music goes, contemporary Celtic group Gallowglass have a performance at Mount Baker Theatre on March 15. Schweinhaus has a St. Paddy’s Day Eve party on March 16 with garage/punk band Sour Fuzz, then another party with Bellingham’s favorite big brass band, Analog Brass, on Monday. (There will also be specials on Jameson and Guinness all weekend long.) For a comprehensive list of St. Patty’s musical events, check Jesse Stanton’s weekly live calendar.
If parties aren’t your style, how about a St. Patrick’s Day poetry reading? Four poets — Peggy Sullivan, Eileen Coughlin, Jeffrey St. Rose and John S. Green — will be sharing their work from 6–7:30 p.m. Monday, March 17 at the new Whatcom Art Center.
Also in Fairhaven, Corner Taphouse has a St. Patrick’s-themed open mic on March 17. Irish tunes and green outfits aren’t required, but they are strongly encouraged.
And in Mount Vernon, Katts Westside Stories promises to pull out all the stops on March 16 for their all-day St. Patty’s Eve party. (Let’s be real, though: Has there ever been a time when Katts didn’t pull out all the stops for a party?) The day begins at 9 a.m. with a corned beef scramble at breakfast, then reuben sandwiches at lunch. They’re serving traditional corned beef and cabbage for dinner, with take-home options available. On the boozier side, patrons can wash it all down with specialty cocktails and green beer.
Mount Vernon’s Celtic Arts Foundation is celebrating St. Patrick’s Day early on Thursday, March 13 — but if you missed their annual dinner, you can make up for it by belting out some Irish standbys at their March 30 Pub Sing.
Last but not least, I’m unsure what a “virtual reality Irish tour experience” entails — but if you’re as curious as I am, you can show up at Shawn O’Donnell’s American Grill and Irish Pub in Mount Vernon from 6–8 p.m. on March 16 to find out. Other St. Patrick’s Day events include a 2 p.m. soda bread contest accompanied by the Everett Celtic Chorale and a complimentary whiskey tasting, also from 6–8 p.m.
Shawn O’Donnell’s is also opening their doors at 7 a.m. on St. Patrick’s Day proper. From there, expect all-day music from performers including Carrigaline (11 a.m. to 2 p.m.), Kenmore Pipes & Drums (2–3 p.m.) and Lindsay Street (6–9 p.m.).
Cocoa Laney is CDN’s lifestyle editor; reach her at cocoalaney@cascadiadaily.com; 360-922-3090 ext. 128.
