St. Patrick's Day stuff to do 2018

albany st patrick's day parade

The Albany St. Patrick's Day Parade

We're into mid March and that means St. Patrick's Day -- always a big holiday in the Capital Region -- will be here soon. In fact, it's this Saturday, so there many events are clustered around the day itself.

Here are a bunch of local ways to celebrate the holiday. From the parades, to food and drink, to music for the time of year where everyone is Irish, if only for a day.

Parades and events

Albany St. Patrick's Day Parade
The 68th annual Albany St. Patrick's Day Parade (FB page) starts at 2 pm. The route steps off at the corner of Quail St and Central Ave, then heads down to Washington Ave on to State St to Pearl Street. Bands, pipes, drums, and lots of green. Saturday, March 17 at 2 pm

The North Albany St. Patrick's Day Parade
A long-running neighborhood tradition. The North Albany St. Patrick's Day Parade starts at noon so there's time to make it downtown for the larger city parade. The parade route begins at the North Albany American Legion Post #1610 (map) and then travels south on Pearl, east on Emmett, north on Broadway, and then south again Pearl to the Legion post. Saturday, March 11 at noon

Irish American Heritage Family Festival
This is the fourth year for the the St. Patrick's Day Family Fest Academy Park in Albany (it's the park across the street from city hall), from 11 am to 4 pm. It's hosted by the Irish American Heritage Museum and touted as a family-friendly event to go along with the parade. Saturday, March 17 from 11 am-4 pm -- free admission

Irish Sweat-er 5k
The first Irish Sweat-er Albany St. Patrick's Day 5K is the same day as the parade. The "route starts in front of City Hall and Academy Park on Eagle Street, goes up Central to the start of the Parade on Ontario St around the cone and then a straight shot back down Central Ave to State Street finishing right in front of the Hilton Hotel on Lodge Street." It's organized by Albany Running Exchange. Saturday, March 17 at noon -- $25 registration

Music and entertainment

March 13: The Chieftains at Proctors
"Six-time Grammy Award®-winners The Chieftains have been highly recognized for reinventing traditional Irish music on a contemporary and international scale." 7:30 pm -- $20 and up

March 15: Lúnasa with special guest vocalist Natalie Merchant PLUS Richie & Rosie
"[A]n evening of traditional and original Celtic music, highlighted by a special guest appearance on a few songs by celebrated vocalist Natalie Merchant." With: Richie & Rosie. 7:30 pm -- $34.50

March 16: Altan at Troy Music Hall
"No Irish traditional band in the last dozen years has had a wider impact on audiences and music lovers throughout the world than Altan." 8 pm -- $29

March 16: Hair of the Dog at The Parting Glass
Celtic rock. 9 pm

March 17: Hair of the Dog at Celtic Hall
"The boys will begin playing music shortly after the Albany, NY parade concludes. This party is open to the public, all ages are welcome and there will be fabulous food and drink. " Celtic Hall is at 430 New Karner Road. 5 pm

March 17: Get Up Jack at Revolution Hall
"Get Up Jack is a joyous retro-romp by six of the most energetic and charismatic performers in Irish music today." 8 pm -- $17 ahead / $20 at door

Food and drink

All sorts of bars and restaurants will be hopping for the holiday, but these places will be especially active this weekend and on St. Patrick's Day.

McGeary's Irish Pub
4 Clinton Square, Albany
An Albany St. Patrick's Day mainstay, McGeary's offers a mix of Irish-American pub fare and a healthy beer selection. This is a hotspot for food and drink after the parade.

Washington Tavern
250 Washington Ave, Albany
Another Albany staple and historically Irish-owned pub, the Washington Tavern also serves a mix of Irish-American favorites like shepherd's pie along with pub fare such as burgers. And it usually has a menu of Irish specials in the days around St. Patrick's Day.

Stout
904 Broadway, Albany
Stout also offers a variety of pub fare with a few Irish staples thrown in for good measure. Stout boasts a spacious interior. It usually has music and all-day corned beef on parade day.

Albany Ancient Order of Hibernians
The Hibernian Hall on Ontario Street will be open to the public and serving corned beef and cabbage dinner the Friday before St. Patrick's Day. And on Saturday it will be again be serving corned beef and cabbage, along with live music -- admission that day will be free for members (with one guest) and $5 the general public.

Swifty's
This pub at the Four Corners in Delmar has food and rink specials on St. Patrick's Day with live music in the evening in its heated tent. And the Swifty's on Everett Road also has an all-day celebration with live music in the evening.

O'Slattery's
This Delmar spot will be open 10 am-2 am pm on St. Patrick's Day with live music starting at 5 pm.

O'Brien's Public House
43 3rd Street, Troy
The O'Briens opened this Irish pub in downtown Troy in the old Trojan Hotel.

Brown's Brewing
417 River Street, Troy
The brew pub a St. Patrick's Day-themed menu. (Brown's Revolution Hall next door is hosting a show with Get Up Jack that day -- details above.) It's just down the street from Ryan's Wake so you can hit both spots if you're looking to mix things up a bit.

Ryan's Wake
403 River Street
A bar with some classic interior touches. It's just down the street from Brown's in Troy, so you can hit both spots if you're looking to mix things up a bit.

The Parting Glass
40-42 Lake Avenue, Saratoga Springs
A few years back it was named one of the top Irish pubs around the world. And it has a lineup of Irish-themed music and entertainment for St. Patrick's Day (see above).

Harvey's
14 Phila Street, Saratoga Springs
Harvey's "embodies the spirit of Ireland located in the heart of Saratoga Springs."

Pinhead Susan's
38 North Broadway, Schenectady
An Irish pub in downtown Schenectady. Its annual St. Patrick's Day block party returns, starting at noon, with music acts and drink/food specials.

Katie O'Byrne's
State and Erie Boulevard, Schenectady
"An authentic taste of Ireland on the boulevard." It has block party lineup for St. Patrick's Day starting at 6 pm (under the tent $10) with music a special menu.

(Pinhead Susan's and Katie O'Byrne's are about a three minute walk from each other.)

Schenectady Ancient Order of Hibernians
The Schenectady Hibernian Hall on State Street will be open to the public on St. Patrick's Day Irish food and music. Admission is free for members, $5 for the general public.

See also: This recent Daily Gazette article about Irish pubs around the area.

Places

Irish American Heritage Museum
370 Broadway, Albany
Chartered in 1986, the Irish American Heritage Museum has a space in downtown Albany. It's dedicated to telling the story of the nearly 40 million Irish Americans who claim Irish ancestry. The museum's collections and exhibits explore Irish American's contributions to history and culture. It has a handful of events related to St. Patrick's Day (a few of them listed above).

Shops
If you're looking for a few St. Patrick's day gifts or something to wear to your celebration, you might find it at one of these shops.

Tipperary at Tara
3956 Route 2, Brunswick

The Counties of Ireland
77 Third St., Troy

Lennon's Irish Shop
164 Jay St., Schenectady

Celtic Treasures
465 Broadway, Saratoga Springs
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Other ideas? Please share!

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