Houston has many fun things to do during St. Patrick's Day weekend. The most popular options include Irish-themed dining, music sessions, dance parties, and sexy kilt contests. But the best way to celebrate is to visit Downtown Houston St. Patrick's Day Parade, which is free. You'll also find streets and storefronts adorned with festive decorations and numerous parties at Irish pubs.
Downtown Houston St. Patrick's Day Parade (March 16, 2024)
With about a hundred marching units, the St. Patrick's Day Parade in Houston is recognized among the largest parades throughout the state. The green procession starts at noon at Market Square. The festive procession will go through the city center and is expected to return at around 1:30 pm. At 2 pm, the award ceremony for participants will take place.
A pleasant bonus is an after-party held in Market Square Park. The program features live music, mouth-watering delicacies, games, and many fun activities. Continuing the celebration, you can enjoy a concert by the band Blood Red Sky, performing U2 music. The concert will take place on the rooftop of Skylawn. So, in addition to the music, you can savor incredible views of the evening city. Tickets range from $20 to $160.
Houston Irish Stew Cook-off and Music Festival (February 17, 2024)
Houston St. Patrick's Parade Commission also organizes other themed events, namely the Houston Irish Stew Cook-off and Music Festival. Visitors here are offered traditional food, a fair, and live music.
St. Paddy's Day Lucky Run (March 16, 2024)
A traditional festive run takes place on March 16th. All participants will receive T-shirts with the inscription "Irish I ran today in my lucky shirt." Runners will have several distance options: from 3 to 8 miles (5 to 13 km). Also, you can opt for a family distance option, covering just 1 mile. The run will take place in 3 waves from 7:30 to 9 am. The registration price starts from $35. The event will be held at Eleanor Tinsley Park. Brace yourself for a celebration after the run.
Irish pubs in Houston (March 9, 15–17, 2024)
But if you're eager to feast on green beer and Irish stew, Houston has plenty of places to cater to your needs. Check out The Rustic, McGonigel's Mucky Duck, and Saint Arnold Beer Garden, to name a few. The pub celebrations will kick off on March 9th. On this day, you can join the St. Patrick's Charity Crawl to support the parade. The event will take place from 3 to 7, with participants visiting 5 Irish-themed bars. From March 15th to 17th, many pubs also host thematic parties. So pull out your green garments and head out for a bar crawl.
