St. Patrick's Day in Pensacola: Where to find parties, pub crawls and more

Brandon Girod, Pensacola News Journal
·5 min read

St. Patrick's Day is March 17 but celebrations in Pensacola kick off a little earlier. Starting with McGuire's 46th annual St. Patrick's Day 5K Run and celebration on Saturday, Pensacolians will have two weeks to enjoy the festivities.

Here's a look at this biggest events around the holiday.

McGuire’s 46th annual St. Patrick’s Day 5K Run

  • When: 9 a.m., March 11

  • Where: McGuire’s Irish Pub, 600 E. Gregory St.

The 46th Annual McGuire's St. Patrick's Day Prediction 5K Run will be held on March 11 at 9 a.m. at McGuire's Irish Pub in downtown Pensacola. The event is open to both runners and walkers who can complete the 5K certified course (3.1 miles) in under one hour.

Registration fees are $45 online at mcguiresirishpub.com or $50 on race day (registration closes at 8 a.m.). Packet pickup and late registration will be available from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on March 10 and from 6:30-8 a.m. on March 11.

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The post-race party will include a pre-race breakfast with bagels, juice, fruit, donuts and coffee, as well as a huge post-race party featuring Rich McDuff's Irish singalong, coffee, Irish fare, Irish wakes, Bud Light, McGuire's Red and soft drinks. Refreshments are for registered runners only. Participants must display their race number to be served. Participants must be 21 or older and have a "Party Wristband" or present proper ID to consume alcoholic beverages.

Strollers, skates and bicycles are not allowed on the course, and no dogs are allowed per city ordinance. Interested individuals can register online and sign up to receive email and/or text alerts regarding race details and results.

Coastal County Brewing Company St. Patrick’s Party

  • When: Noon, March 11

  • Where: Coastal County Brewing Company, 3041 E. Olive Road

Coastal County Brewing Company is hosting its third annual St. Patrick's Party. The event will take place right after the McGuire's Prediction Run, providing a fun after-party for the participants.

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The event is open to all, with plenty of family-friendly activities planned throughout the day. The Tap Wall will feature house favorites alongside special recipes brewed specifically for the occasion, such as the Irish Car Bomb Stout and Irish Coffee Nitro Brown Ale. The craft kitchen will also offer Irish food specials to complement the brews.

Live music will be provided by local artists on the beer garden stage throughout the day. A bounce house will be set up to keep the kids entertained while the adults enjoy the festivities.

Attendees are encouraged to wear green and join in the St. Patrick's Day fun at Coastal County Brewing Company.

2023 "Go Irish on the Island" St. Paddy's Day Pub Crawl

  • When: 9 a.m., March 17

  • Where: Crabs We Got 'Em, 6 Casino Beach Boardwalk, Pensacola Beach

The Pensacola Beach Chamber of Commerce invites one and all to “Go Irish on the Island” for the annual St. Paddy’s Day Pub Crawl on March 17. The annual pub crawl along Pensacola Beach features 12 participating beach bars, restaurants and hotels serving up Irish drink specials, music, mayhem and mischief.

The fun begins at 9 a.m. at Crabs We Got ‘Em where a free breakfast will be served from 9 to 10 a.m. with the purchase of a $10 drink. Each stop afterward will last 45 minutes. Revelers can jump in and join the fun mid-day at any of the locations and times listed below:

  • 9 a.m. – Crabs We Got 'Em (Breakfast served)

  • 10 a.m. – The Dock

  • 10:45 a.m. – Casino Beach Bar & Grill

  • 11:30 a.m. – Landshark Landing Beach Bar & Grill

  • 12:15 p.m. – Riptides Grill & Tiki Bar

  • 1 p.m. – Paddy O’Leary’s

  • 1:45 p.m. – Flounder’s Chowder House

  • 2:30 p.m. – Whiskey Joe’s Bar & Grill

  • 3:15 p.m. – Shaggy’s Harbor Bar & Grill

  • 4 p.m. – Café Nola

  • 4:45 p.m. – Bamboo Willie’s Beachside Bar

  • 5:30 p.m. – The Sandshaker

The St. Paddy’s Day Pub Crawl t-shirts are $18 each and will be available at each participating location and the Visitor Information Center on Pensacola Beach.

While it’s a celebration of Irish culture and traditions, the St. Paddy’s Day Pub Crawl — in memory of event founder John Patrick “Paddy” Blake — is a fundraising event for the Pensacola Beach Chamber of Commerce, a non-profit corporation. The Chamber will donate a portion of the t-shirt proceeds to Covenant Care in his name.

St. Patrick’s Day Party

  • When: 10 a.m., March 17

  • Where: O’Riley’s Irish Pub Downtown, 321 S. Palafox St.

O’Riley’s Irish Pub Downtown is opening early March 17 to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day all day. Jay Moody will play live Irish music from noon to 4 p.m. O’Riley’s will be serving green beer, corned beef and cabbage throughout the day. There will be games and a Gallery Night block party.

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St. Patrick's Day 2023 at O’Riley’s Uptown Tavern

  • When: 7 p.m., March 17

  • Where: O’Riley’s Uptown Tavern, 3728 Creighton Road

O’Riley’s Uptown Tavern is hosing a St. Patrick’s Day party with drink specials, games, green beer, backyard bar golf, live DJ and more.

Drink specials include $4 Bud Light aluminums, $4 green Bud Light draft, $8 Espirit De Krewe Grog Punch, $5.25 Guinness and $7 Jameson.

There is a $5 cover charge at 7 p.m.

This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: St. Patrick's Day in Pensacola: McGuire's run, pub crawl, parties