LIFESTYLE

It’s March, and St. Patrick’s Day is upon us—the time of the year when you wear green one day and, if you knock back a few pints of Guinness, may feel green the next. This is a time when shamrocks and leprechauns are seen on more than just boxes of Lucky Charms, and Riverdance is all the rage. It makes no difference if you’re not Irish by heritage; St. Patrick himself, the patron saint of Ireland, was born in Britain! And on this holiday celebrating his legacy, everyone is equally welcome to partake in the festivities. Is it this welcoming spirit that makes us love St. Patrick’s Day so?

“The Irish really know how to enjoy themselves,” says Brian McMullan of McMullan’s Irish Pub, “and if you’re not Irish, at least you can be Irish for the day.” Terry Koszewnik, manager of Fadó Irish Pub (whose new Henderson location will open in April), agrees: “Everyone enjoys Irish culture. St. Patrick’s Day provides a chance for the non-Irish to believe that they were born and raised there.”

Fortunately, if you’re looking to kick up your heels for a wee bit o’ Irish-themed fun, you’re in the right place. After all, in Vegas you can see Venetian gondoliers, the Eiffel Tower, and the Statue of Liberty all within a few blocks, so it stands to reason that we have a few bona fide Irish pubs that are a great source of shenanigans on St. Patrick’s Day—and year-round. Here’s what you can expect from a few of them.

McMullan’s Irish Pub (4650 West Tropicana) has a whole month of merriment on tap, and it starts with an opportunity to do something good for those in need. On March 8, from 2 p.m. to 4 a.m., McMullan’s will host St. Baldrick’s Day, a charity event to help kids fighting cancer. The St. Baldrick’s Foundation is the world’s biggest volunteer-driven fundraising program for childhood cancer, collecting over $34 million in the last eight years. You can give a regular donation, naturally—or, if you’ve always wanted to know what you’d look like bald, you can solicit donations from friends and family by promising to shave your head. The staff at McMullan’s anticipates that at least 200 heads will be shaved at the pub on the 8th

The night before, on the 7th of March, McMullan’s has partnered with the Las Vegas Wranglers hockey team for “St. Baldrick’s Eve.” The Wranglers will face off against the Bakersfield Condors, and heads will be shaved right on the center ice. If McMullan’s sells 1,500 tickets to the game, an extra $25,000 will be given to the St. Baldrick’s charity, so it’s a good time to treat your family and friends to some holiday hockey. (Tickets can be purchased at https://lasvegaswranglers.com/eventtickets.aspx?id=202 .)

And of course there will be revelry at the pub itself on St. Patrick’s Day weekend, March 14 through 17. Starting at 9 p.m. on the weekend and noon on Monday, six bands are slated to perform: Killian’s Angels, Acoustic Soul, Darby O’Gill and the Little People, Pog Mo Thoin Bagpipers, High Wire, and the VIPs.

J.C. Wooloughan Irish Pub inside the JW Marriott also has a rousing roster of St. Paddy’s Day goodies. Saturday, March 15, from 7 to 8 p.m. they’ll offer $2 pints of Guinness, Harp, and Smithwick’s, and live entertainment. On Sunday, enjoy a traditional Irish brunch in Edge Lounge followed by an afternoon of entertainment by the Martin Perceval School of Irish Dance, and Joshua Tree—a U2 tribute band. (Make reservations by calling 702-869-7381). And on Monday, wear your green for the smorgasbord of Irish food at J.C. Wooloughan’s, bag pipes, and more music—including John Windsor, Vegas Players, and Thompson/O’Keefe.

At New York-New York Hotel & Casino’s pub, Nine Fine Irishmen, they’ll be celebrating with the three-day “Celtic Feis,” a festival featuring plenty of live entertainment such as the Celtic Rockers and Elevation (another U2 cover band) and a parade—and of course, Irish beers and whiskey in abundance. The festivities begin on Saturday, March 15, and end on Monday.

But all rollicking good times need not be spent at a pub. For a more family-friendly venue, there’s the annual St. Patrick’s Day parade and festival, held by the Southern Nevada Sons of Erin. This year, the event—held for 42 years in a row—is expected to be the biggest ever; so much bigger that they’ve expanded it an extra day to accommodate everything (it’s held from March 14 through 17). Live entertainment on the main amphitheatre stage includes performances by The Scintas, Ellie Smith, the Frankie Moreno Band, The Irish Affair, Vegas Valley Cloggers, and more. Or hang out in the Irish Rock n’ Roll Beer Garden, and enjoy drink specials while you rock out to Darby O’Gill and the Little People, as well as other local bands. No festival would be complete without a carnival, and the St. Patrick’s Day Festival has both a main carnival with over 20 rides and game booths, and a “Kids Karnival” with fun stuff for the youngest set. The parade, held on Saturday, March 14, consists of over 125 entries this year and will conclude with a car show and concert. Best of all, a portion of all the proceeds from the festival and parade go to this year’s charity partners: the Ronald McDonald House, Shriners, and Time & History.

Whatever you decide to do, have some fun this St. Paddy’s Day—and may the luck o’ the Irish be with you all year long!