Best St. Patrick's Day events in Sarasota, Bradenton, Venice, Lakewood Ranch, Punta Gorda

Jimmy Geurts, Sarasota Herald-Tribune
·6 min read

St. Patrick's Day takes place Friday this year, and if you haven't already made your plans yet for celebrating the holiday, fear not, as there will be plenty of festivities to choose from.

Many of these events take place at our area's standout Irish pubs and restaurants, including an outdoor block party that's the biggest annual St. Patrick's Day celebration in Sarasota, but they're not the only ones getting in on the fun, with two other block parties being held in downtown Sarasota and Bradenton. They range from family-friendly to 21-and-up, and from parties that promise green beer to an authentic Irish pub that makes a note they won't serve it.

Presented in chronological order of when they start throughout the day, here are the top St. Patrick's Day events in Sarasota, Manatee and Charlotte counties. Event details are subject to change.

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St. Patrick's Day at Big Top Brewing Company

Big Top Brewing Company will celebrate St. Patrick's Day with a free pancake breakfast, $5 dry Irish stout on tap, and live music by Prodigal Sons featuring Dana Lawrence (pictured here.)
Big Top Brewing Company will celebrate St. Patrick's Day with a free pancake breakfast, $5 dry Irish stout on tap, and live music by Prodigal Sons featuring Dana Lawrence (pictured here.)

The Sarasota brewery starts off the day early with a free pancake breakfast at 7 a.m., Prodigal Sons playing then and at 7 p.m., and $5 dry Irish stout on tap all day. 7 a.m. Big Top Brewing Company, 975 Cattlemen Road, Sarasota; 941-371-2939; bigtopbrewing.com

St. Patrick's Day at the Freckled Fin

Freckled Fin Irish Pub is at 5337 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach, on Anna Maria Island.
Freckled Fin Irish Pub is at 5337 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach, on Anna Maria Island.

The Anna Maria Island Irish pub opens at 9 a.m. on St. Patrick's Day, offering free Jameson shots for the first 30 minutes, $4 Guinness and $5 Irish coffees until 11 a.m. and free Jello shots and St. Patrick's Day merch while supplies last, along with live music from Josh Gilton and Acoustic Thunder and a limited food menu including corned beef and cabbage, Irish potato cakes and Reubens. 9 a.m. Freckled Fin Irish Pub, 5337 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach; 941-251-3930; freckledfin.com

St. Patrick's Day at Celtic Ray

Punta Gorda's The Celtic Ray Public House, pictured here, will throw an all-day event for St. Patrick's Day.
Punta Gorda's The Celtic Ray Public House, pictured here, will throw an all-day event for St. Patrick's Day.

The authentic Irish pub ("no green beer," they make a point of noting) celebrates the holiday with live music including Clover’s Revenge, Paul Duffy, Adam Shirah and Victims of Circumstance, and food including fish and chips, Guinness stew, chicken curry and corned beef and cabbage. There will also be two food trucks and two beer trucks with mobile bars with full liquor available, along with Celtic Ray's own bar. 9 a.m. Celtic Ray Public House, 145 E. Marion Ave., Punta Gorda; 941-916-9115; celticray.net

St. Patrick's Day at Lynches Pub & Grub

Lynches Pub & Grub is at 19 N. Blvd. of Presidents on St. Armands Circle in Sarasota.
Lynches Pub & Grub is at 19 N. Blvd. of Presidents on St. Armands Circle in Sarasota.

The Irish pub, package store and gift store on St. Armands Circle celebrates the holiday with live music from The Jacobites and Goodbye Eddie, green beer, Irish food and its lengthy lineup of Irish whiskeys. 10 a.m. Lynches Pub & Grub, 19 N. Blvd. of Presidents, Sarasota; 941-388-5550; lynches.pub

St. Paddy's Day Bash at Clancy's

Clancy's will hold its St. Paddy's Day Bash, pictured here in 2018, again this year.
Clancy's will hold its St. Paddy's Day Bash, pictured here in 2018, again this year.

The Bradenton Irish pub and tiki bar features live entertainment including Eric Von, Jezabelle and Irish Dance Academy of Sarasota, plus food including corned beef and cabbage, shepherd's pie, hot dogs and hamburgers. Wear your green, with the best Irish costume winning a $50 prize. Must be 21 or older to attend. 11 a.m. Clancy's Irish Sports Pub & Grill, 6218 Cortez Road W., Bradenton; 941-794-2489; clancysirishsportspub.com

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St. Patrick's Day at Molly's Pub

Molly's Pub is at 1562 Main St., Sarasota.
Molly's Pub is at 1562 Main St., Sarasota.

The downtown Sarasota Irish pub will celebrate St. Patrick's Day (and its own one-year anniversary) with live music from the Corry Family Band starting at 5 p.m. and DJ Kelly Crawford starting at 10 p.m., whiskey specials and traditional Irish food. 11 a.m. Molly's Pub, 1562 Main St., Sarasota; 941-366-7711; mollyspubsrq.com

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St. Patrick's Day at T.J. Carney's

T.J. Carney’s is at 231 W. Venice Ave. in downtown Venice.
T.J. Carney’s is at 231 W. Venice Ave. in downtown Venice.

The downtown Venice restaurant and bar will celebrate St. Pat's with live music and entertainment by Ken McBride, bagpipers and step dancers. 11 a.m. T.J. Carneys, 231 W. Venice Ave., Venice; 941-480-9244; tjcarneys.com

St. Patrick's Day at the Crow's Nest

The Crow’s Nest is located at 1968 Tarpon Center Drive.
The Crow’s Nest is located at 1968 Tarpon Center Drive.

The waterfront Venice restaurant celebrates St. Patrick's Day by announcing the winners of its annual limerick contest, along with specials including fish and chips, shepherd's pie, Irish stew, corned beef and cabbage, Baileys cheesecake and $5 Guinness all day. 11:30 a.m. The Crow's Nest, 1968 Tarpon Center Drive, Venice; 941-484-9551; crowsnest-venice.com

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St. Patrick's Day Celebration at Fishermen's Village

Fishermen's Village will host a St. Patrick's Day celebration featuring live music including The Black Velvet Band, pictured here performing during a Day of Celtic Music in 2021.
Fishermen's Village will host a St. Patrick's Day celebration featuring live music including The Black Velvet Band, pictured here performing during a Day of Celtic Music in 2021.

Fishermen's Village hosts its annual St. Patrick's Day celebration, featuring Irish music and dance from The Black Velvet Band, Punta Gorda Bag Pipers, Drake School of Irish Dance, Emily Ann and Kel Thompson, and Jeff Walton, plus a "special appearance by the leprechaun." Noon; Fishermen's Village, 1200 W. Retta Esplanade, Punta Gorda; 941-639-8721; fishermensvillage.com

St. Patrick's Day on Lakewood Ranch Main Street

McGrath's Irish Ale House will take part in St. Patrick's Day on Lakewood Ranch Main Street.
McGrath's Irish Ale House will take part in St. Patrick's Day on Lakewood Ranch Main Street.

McGrath's Irish Ale House and Ed's Tavern in downtown Lakewood Ranch present this event featuring live music from Coddle Stew, Celt-ish and Fresh Air, Irish food and beer, kids games and entertainment, 50/50 raffles and giveaways, and a performance by Finnegan Academy of Irish Dance. 1 p.m. Lakewood Ranch Main Street, 8100 Lakewood Main St., Lakewood Ranch; 800-307-2624; lakewoodranch.com

St. Patrick's Day Block Party at Shamrock Pub

Shamrock Pub hosts its annual St. Patrick's Day block party, pictured here in 2019, again this year.
Shamrock Pub hosts its annual St. Patrick's Day block party, pictured here in 2019, again this year.

Sarasota's biggest annual St. Patrick's Day celebration, Shamrock Pub's outdoor block party on the edge of downtown features a lineup of live music including Blue Skye Pipes and Drums, Andy Thomas, bagpiper Mark MacPhee, The Wandering Hours, Beach Terror, Physical Plant and Speak Easy, along with Guinness and other libations. 3 p.m. Shamrock Pub, 2257 Ringling Blvd., Sarasota; 941-952-1730; facebook.com/shamrockpub

Main Street Live

Bradenton's Main Street Live, pictured here in 2017, will hold its next event on St. Patrick's Day.
Bradenton's Main Street Live, pictured here in 2017, will hold its next event on St. Patrick's Day.

The block party on downtown Bradenton's Old Main Street between Manatee and Third avenues falls on St. Patrick's Day this month, featuring live music from Honey Hounds as well as local food/drink trucks, vendors and artisans, rock painting and other kids crafts, and green beer at Loaded Barrel Tavern. Old Main Street is also home to two of our favorite Irish pubs: McCabe's Irish Pub and O'Bricks Irish Pub & Martini Bar. 6 p.m. Old Main Street, Bradenton; facebook.com/independentjones

St. Patrick's Day Block Party at Gator Club

Downtown Sarasota's Gator Club, known for hosting street parties such as the Bourbon Rock and Blues Bash pictured here in 2017, will hold its annual St. Patrick's Day block party this year.
Downtown Sarasota's Gator Club, known for hosting street parties such as the Bourbon Rock and Blues Bash pictured here in 2017, will hold its annual St. Patrick's Day block party this year.

The historic downtown Sarasota bar, which often holds block parties in front of its Main Street location, hosts this St. Patrick's Day celebration featuring live music by 22N outside and Johnny Diamond inside, food trucks and tent vendors. 6 p.m. The Gator Club, 1490 Main St., Sarasota; 941-366-5969; facebook.com/thegatorclubsrq

Email entertainment reporter Jimmy Geurts at jimmy.geurts@heraldtribune.com. Support local journalism by subscribing.

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Best 2023 St. Patrick's Day events in Sarasota, Bradenton, Venice