March is full of ways to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day across New Jersey. There are St. Patrick’s Day parades happening across the state, Irish festivals, family-friendly brunches, live music and more. Here’s your guide to the best St. Patrick’s Day events all month:
March 1-30
St. Patrick’s Day at Shannon Rose
Shannon Rose Irish Pub, Clifton and Ramsey
All month long, you can order off of the special Foods & Drinks of Ireland menu, while getting into the Irish spirit with live music, step dancers, bagpipers, family-friendly activities, and fundraising campaigns. Kids St. Patrick’s Day Celebration Brunches will be hosted on March 7 and 8 and include step dancing, bagpipers, face painting, a children’s Leprechaun parade and costume contest, a DJ dance party, cookie decorating and raffle prizes.
March 13-15
Hunterdon County Irish Festival
Red Mill Museum Village, Clinton
Activities ahead of St. Patrick’s Day include a children’s party on Saturday, the village-wide parade on Sunday, and music concerts every night.
March 13-17
The Galway Girls: A Celtic Celebration
Peddler’s Village, Lahaska, PA
The Galway Girls—Meredith Beck, Janice Landry and Jo Brook—celebrate Irish heritage and traditions through folk songs, traditional tunes and modern hits (like from U2 and The Cranberries). This is a dinner theater production, so make a reservation at Cock ‘n Bull Restaurant before the show for a three-course dinner.
March 13-22
Shake the Shamrock Week
Brigantine
Local businesses will offer face painting, games, themed events, or live music, plus special promos throughout the week. Brigantine’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade is on March 14.
March 14-15
St. Patrick’s Day in the Winery
Terhune Orchards, Princeton
The music of Shamrock Shenanigans with Mike Tusay on Saturday and Irish Tunes with Bill O’Neal and his wife, Mary, on Sunday, are just the beginning of this weekend party. Adults can try tasting flights or mulled wine while kids run around on the playgrounds and near the farm animals. Stop inside the farm store for fresh homemade Irish soda bread.
March 14 – 17
It’s Paddy’s Not Patty’s
San Patricios, Jersey City
San Patricios is named for Los San Patricios, and this is the Irish-Mexican restaurant’s first time celebrating St. Patrick’s Day. There will be six bands playing over three days, plus Irish drink specials.
Irish Heritage Week
Hoboken
Events over the long weekend include a scavenger hunt, live music, Irish step dancing, Gaelic sport instruction (hurling), face painting at Little City Books, a cookie decorating class at Willie McBride’s.
A preview of Hoboken’s events can be seen on our Instagram page.
March 17
Lucky Chairlift Giveaway
Big SNOW, American Dream, East Rutherford
Ride in one of 17 marked chairs, and if you’re in the lucky chair, you’ll get a free lift ticket for a future visit.
March 15
Freehold Borough Arts Council’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade
Downtown Freehold
Bands, organizations, community groups, first responders and Irish lovers will march along Main Street. Choose your after-party: Mail Order Bride at the Freehold Elks Lodge, Jimmy & Gene’s McMahon Clan at the Knights of Columbus, or Eddie Testa Band/Pat Guadagno & Richard Blackwell at The American Hotel.
Candlelight Celtic
Enlow Recital Hall of Kean University, Union
You’ll listen to Irish songs and stories while surrounded by the glow of over 1,000 candles.
March 17
St. Patrick’s Day Party
Readington Brewery, Readington
The annual party welcomes back St. Ann’s of Hampton Pipes and Drums during this night of food, beer and Irish traditions.
St. PARKtrick’s Day
The Park, Berkeley Heights
Emberside Brewery and Twin Elephant Brewery are working on a collab beer, and you’ll get to taste it. There will be light food, live music, and a T-shirt giveaway.
March 18
Irish Harp: Music & Song
Museum of Early Trades & Crafts, Madison
Aideen O’Donnell, a renowned Irish harpist, will play a selection of Irish songs.
March 21
Highlands St. Patrick’s Day Parade
Huddy Park to Bay Avenue, Highlands
This event will celebrate Irish culture, with nearly 100 marching units including bagpipers, marching bands, Irish dancers, and decorated floats. In honor of America’s 250th anniversary, this year’s parade will also include a patriotic nod to our nation’s history, inviting you to creatively blend Irish pride with red, white, and blue. Join in the fun at the annual float competition, then head to different restaurants around town after for pipe bands, live entertainment, and St. Patrick’s Day celebrations.
March 28
Belmar St. Patrick’s Day Parade
Belmar and Spring Lake
Prior to the kickoff of the parade, the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick of the Jersey Shore, and the Spring Lake Fire Department, will hold a rally at the fire department, with Bloody Marys, beer, wine and hot chocolate. The CBA Pipe & Drum Band will join the march. You can head back to the FD for a post-parade party.
Previous Events
Irish Step Dancing with Dawn Daniels
March 1
Irish Step Dancing
Staten Island Children’s Museum, Staten Island, New York
Dawn Daniels, former winner of the North American Irish Step Dance Championship, will teach you all about Irish step dancing. You’ll see costumes and instruments, hear a little bit of history, and then learn how to dance.
March 7
Guinness Run
Highlands
The Highlands Business Partnership invites beer drinkers to enter their pre-St. Paddy’s Day race, where runners fill up their cups and race from Off the Hook to Grand T and back; the person who has the most amount of Guinness in their cup at the finish line wins. Fans are invited to dress up in Irish clothing, hats and costumes and cheer along the way. Everyone is invited to the post-race party at Off the Hook, where there will be appetizers, live music and more beer.
Ocean County St. Patrick’s Day Parade
Seaside Heights
Grand Marshal Sammy Hammer will be joined by Peggy Hurley, Irishwoman of the Year, as marchers head down the Boulevard. Massed Band will present a 40-foot American flag while piped bands join in “Amazing Grace.” The post-parade party is co-hosted by The Hershey Motel, and features the music of The Drunkin’ Clams.
Shamrocks By The Shore
Pier Village, Long Branch
The St. Patrick’s Day celebration is filled with music by an Irish folk band and bagpipers, kids’ activities, and a village-wide Shamrock Stroll where you collect stamps to win prizes.
March 7-8
Kids St. Patrick’s Day Celebration Brunches
Shannon Rose Irish Pub, Clifton and Ramsey
There will be step dancing, bagpipers, face painting, a children’s Leprechaun parade and costume contest, a DJ dance party, cookie decorating and raffle prizes.
March 8
St. Patrick’s Day Parade
Hackettstown
Irish dance groups, Irish bands, community groups, Boy and Girl Scouts, bagpipes and drums, Centenary University and Hackettstown High School teams and clubs, floats
and decorated vehicles, and area fire departments and rescue squads will march down the streets. A Pet Irish Costume Contest will be held for dogs, who can then walk in the parade, too.
March 13
St. Patrick’s Festival: From Ireland to America
Shore Club, Spring Lake
Get on the bus from locations in Cape May Court House and Tuckerton, and you’ll travel up to Spring Lake, where you’ll be treated to Irish entertainment, a comedy show, bagpipes, one-hour open bar, lunch and dessert.
March 14
Paddy O’Laddy and The Great Rainbow Treasure Quest
Grand Cascade Lodge at Crystal Springs Resort, Hamburg
Paddy O’Laddy is a leprechaun doll that spreads kindness every St. Patrick’s Day season through a series of books. The book comes to life through a St. Paddy’s Day event, including a treasure hunt, magical fairy and leprechaun clip-in hair accessories, face painting, a book reading, and signings by NJ author Kimberly Feehan-Ponte, and more lucky surprises.
Irish Festival
Washington Street, Toms River
The street will be filled with live entertainment, booths by local businesses, and tables set up by restaurants.
St. Patrick’s Day Parade & Party
Sea Isle City
Before the parade, come to KIX Bars & Night Club for a Jameson warmup and best dressed contest. After the parade, come back to KIX for the after party.
The Cook College Ramblers: An Irish Celebration
Monmouth County Library, Eastern Branch Library Branch, Shrewsbury
Listen to Irish folk music, rebel anthems, ballads and pub sing-alongs.
St. Patrick’s Day Parade & Celebration
North Wildwood
A Catholic Mass will be offered at St. Ann Church of Notre Dame La Mer Parish before a ceremony on the front steps of North Wildwood City Hall. Members of the Anglesea Irish Society lead the parade for the VFW Color Guard, Vietnam Veterans of America, Ancient Order of Hibernians, Irish Pipe Brigade, Emerald Society, Miss North Wildwood, Queen Oceania, local school bands, and more.
St. Patrick’s Day Tea
Smithville Mansion, Eastampton
Inside this historic home, have a special holiday-themed afternoon tea.
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St. Patrick’s Day Parades in New Jersey
