12 Best Ways to Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in North Texas

March 17 is St. Patrick’s Day, the traditional celebration of Irish culture in America (though St. Patrick himself was actually a Roman Briton who was brought to the land by pirates). It is said that Ireland’s principal export is Irish people, who migrated worldwide and often found themselves embroiled in various adventures, some legit and some clandestine, leading to a cultural tradition of rowdiness around the holiday.

Seeing as St. Patrick’s Day falls on a Tuesday this year, most of the events are happening this weekend. Here is our guide to some ways to celebrate, from adult parties to family-friendly outings. Entries include Dallas, Fort Worth and other nearby North Texas suburbs.

Saturday, March 14

St. Paddy’s Day Fair at City Park
11 a.m.-2 p.m., 1515 Harwood St.,
Free
Holding off until the end of the day to have your first sip of green beer? Head over to City Park for a family-friendly mid-day celebration. If parades and block parties are too much for you, then relax at this city-produced celebration. It’s free, it will be fun and there probably won’t be obnoxious, overserved small men sloshing around.

St. Patrick’s Weekend Celebration
11 a.m – 10 p.m., Community Beer Company,  3110 Commonwealth Drive,
Reservation Required
Why listen to bagpipes when you can listen to a Bon Jovi cover band instead? Community Beer Company is putting on a two-day St. Patrick’s Day celebration with live music, vendors and Irish step dancers. There will be Irish-themed food and drinks, and a whole lot of luck. You can reserve a table online in advance.

2026 Dallas St. Patrick’s Day Parade
11 a.m., Blackwell Street,
Free
The. Big. One. While some cities have rivers to dye green, we do the best with what we’ve got, and we do a damn good job. The Dallas St. Patrick’s Day Parade is back, baby. The parade and its participating floats will chug down Blackwell Street, and Dallasites will chug pints of Guinness every mile.

Lower Greenville St. Patrick’s Day Block Party
9 a.m.–6 p.m., Greenville Avenue,
$20
The traditional Dallas accompaniment to the parade is the Lower Greenville Block Party. When you’ve had enough of the floats, head down to the biggest Irish block party in the city. There are beer tents and three music stages offering a variety of bands and brews. Plan to eat, as Dodie’s Reef, The Dubliner, Stan’s Blue Note, Terilli’s, Halcyon, Christies Sports Bar, Sister Restaurant and Goodwins are all participating. Though the official party ends at 6 p.m., all the bars will serve until 2 a.m. Cash only at the beer tents. ATMs on site, because while this an Ireland-centered holiday, it’s still the United States of Capitalism.

Cowtown Goes Green
10 a.m.– 8 p.m., Fort Worth Stockyards, 131 E. Exchange Ave.
Free
Put a little rodeo in your St. Patrick’s Day this year. The historic Fort Worth Stockyards hosts Irish dancing alongside armadillo races, Irish music, a Wild West gun show and pony rides. It’s a perfect way to celebrate the many Irish immigrants who worked the cattle ranges in the Old West.

St. Paddy’s Texas Style
1 p.m.–9:30 p.m., Wayne Ferguson Plaza, 150 W. Church St.
Free
For one of the most affordable, family-friendly, all-day St. Patrick’s Day events, head out to Old Town Lewisville. The festival combines the Irish holiday with Texas Independence Day for a unique experience. Activities include face painting, lucha libre matches, a U2 cover band, train rides and bounce houses. Most activities are free, including all the concerts.

St. Paddy’s Day at The Truck Yard
11 a.m., The Truckyard, 5624 Sears St.
$20
Irish-themed drinks, food, free beads, live music and a patio. Not much left to desire in the world. The Truck Yard will be celebrating St. Patrick’s Day for as long as they can, or until the bar closes at 2 a.m. With that said, we hope they stocked up on green food dye and Lucky Charms marshmallows.

McKinney St. Patrick’s Day Beer Walk
11 a.m.-6 p.m., Historic Downtown McKinney
$42
More than 13 breweries are offering samples on the McKinney St. Patrick’s Day Beer Walk. There’s also a run, but we’re partial to the leisurely walk. Oh, also, you get a branded cup too.

Sunday, March 15

St. Paddy’s Bash and Crawfish Eating Contest
2 p.m., 9305 Preston Rd, Frisco
$20
Crawfish isn’t the first thing that pops into our heads when we think of St. Patrick’s Day. In fact, it may not even be one of the first 10 things that pop into our heads. But maybe it should be. Best-case scenario, you win $750; worst-case scenario, you had a really big lunch and can’t fit as much beer in your belly.

Monday, March 16

Blackfriar Pub
3 p.m.–midnight, Monday, March 17
2621 McKinney Ave. and 6341 La Vista Drive
Both Blackfriar locations will be open all St. Patrick’s weekend, but it’s one of the best places to be on Monday. Green beer, Jameson’s specials, Irish cuisine, pipers, a live DJ and personalized Guinness pints make for an iconic St. Paddy’s Day experience. Toast old Erin in style

Tuesday, March 17

River Driver at St. Paddy’s at the Irishman
18101 Preston Rd. Ste. 102
Do you love Irish fusion music? If not, you will once you’ve heard River Driver at the Irishman. It’s a swinging way to celebrate the boozy holiday in the middle of the week.

6th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Pub Party
11 a.m.-2 a.m., Harwood Arms
If there’s anywhere to find an Irishman in Dallas on St. Patrick’s Day, it’s Harwood Arms. The traditional pub maintains its reputation for being thoroughly authentic. Celebrations (with shirts) start at 11 a.m., but the party goes all night.