Stay lucky: A guide to St. Patrick’s day fun in Portland

By Maggie Dapp | March 15, 2023 7:30pm
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A freshly poured pint of Guinness rests on a table in the famous Guinness Storehouse.
Media Credit: Molly Lowney / The Beacon

Break out the green and Guinness — for Pilots 21 and over — it's time for the luckiest holiday of the year: St. Patrick’s Day. Whether you’d like to enjoy the on-campus festivities or head downtown, The Beacon has a list of Irish(ish) activities to help you feel the Irish spirit. 

Off-campus fun: 

Irish pubs and live entertainment 

Enjoy the atmosphere, eats, drinks and traditional Irish music and dancing at Portland’s Irish pubs and bars. Stop in at Kells Irish Pub for their 2023 Portland Irish Festival March 17-18 where you can enjoy traditional Irish music and dancing at their downtown location. 

Paddy’s Bar & Grill is also coming back with their 2023 Saint Patrick’s Day Festival on March 17. It includes traditional entertainment as well as a “Win a Trip to Ireland” raffle. 

Head to Washington Square for shopping, Irish eats and entertainment at the Thirsty Lion  on March 17. If you'd rather hit multiple venues consider joining the popular Lucky’s St. Patrick’s Day Bar Crawl March 17-18. 

Live Celtic musical show 

Looking for a real cultural experience this St. Patrick’s day? Catch the 8p.m. show on March 17 at The Old Church Concert Hall featuring the Gothard Sisters, a trio of American sisters who perform a blend of folk, classical and Celtic music. The Gothard Sisters are Pacific Northwest natives but have shared their Celtic music and culture as far as Japan. 

On-campus fun:

Irish cuisine

Stuck on campus this St. Patrick’s day but craving traditional Irish cuisine? No worries, Bauccio Commons and the Pilot House plan to serve St. Pat’s specials to curb those cravings. Enjoy a grasshopper white mocha or a leprechaun latte at the Pilot House coffee bar. You can also enjoy a St. Patty’s Day Corned Beef Rueben on Rye (also offered in a vegan tempeh option) for lunch and Corned Beef and Colcannon for dinner at the Commons. 

Head on down to The Pilot House to grab a speciality St, Patrick's Day drink.
by Emma Sells / The Beacon

Portland Trail Blazers vs. Boston Celtics game

Don’t want to leave the comfort of your couch? For those interested in keeping up with Portland’s favorite NBA team, hop in front of a cable TV or streaming device and watch the most Irish Blazers game of the year as the Portland Trail Blazers take on the Boston Celtics on March 17 at 7p.m. PST live at the Moda Center. 

St. Patrick’s Day grams for charity

Send your friends the luck of the Irish with St. Patrick’s Day Grams! Fill out this form and Mehling Hall Council will make and deliver chocolate coin goody bags with your personalized message to your on-campus friends. Proceeds from the grams will go to a Holy Cross Missions apostolate. 

Maggie Dapp is a sports reporter for The Beacon. She can be reached at dapp26@up.edu.

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