Indianapolis knows how to do St. Patrick’s Day up properly. This year, St. Paddy’s Day falls on a Friday, and we can expect much revelry and rousing tunes and green beer to flow. It doesn’t hurt that the east side has the oldest Irish pub in Indiana (McGinley’s Golden Ace), plus Manley’s Irish Mutt, O’Gara’s in Beech Grove, Si Greene’s . . an embarrassment of riches for the Irish in all of us.
The festivities begin downtown with the 21st year of the Greening of the Canal on Thurs., March 16 beginning at 5 p.m. at Ohio and West. Live music will be provided by Eunan McIntyre, followed by the spectacle of the greening. Expect dignitaries, families, and lots of fun (if the weather cooperates).
Friday, March 17 the day begins at 10 a.m. at the pre-St. Patrick’s Day festivities with music by Eunan McIntyre, coffee and doughnuts (while supplies last) on Vermont between Meridian and Pennsylvania. The parade steps off at 11:30 a.m., and features your usual round-up of dignitaries like Mayor Joe Hogsett, Senator Joe Donnelly, and many more. Local Catholic schools will be represented, such as Cathedral, Little Flower, and Our Lady of Lourdes. Also keep your eyes peeled for the Woodruff Lawn Chair Brigade and Umbrella Chicks. New this year will be the Black Hat Society, our favorite Irvington/eastside witches and their kilted drum corp performing good-luck hexes on the crowd. Afterwards, meet up at noon on Vermon for performances by Highland Reign.
Heading over here to the east side, spend some time at McGinley’s Golden Ace, 2533 E. Washington St., for libations, dancing, and some authentic music inside and out. Indiana’s best Irish tenor, Patrick Grant, Eunan McIntyre, Irish folk band Legacy, and Irishbluegrass band Jigjam will be on hand from noon onwards. This is the 84th St. Patrick’s Day celebration they’ve thrown — with absolutely no green beer! (21 and older, cash only).
Paula Nicewanger/Weekly View
Eunan McIntyre will be playing all over town.
Manley’s Irish Mutt will do it up big with the annual Tent Party featuring live music from The Murat Highlander Bagpipers, Eunan McIntyre and Dog Bite Mike, & Emcee by Bob Gavaghan. Libations can be had in the heated tent, and there will be TVs so you can watch March Madness (if you must). For March 17 only, there will be a special menu that includes Shepherd’s Pie, Irish Stew, the Mutt Dog, and an Irish Cider Infused Pork Sandwich. It will be a cash only, 21-and-over event, with overflow parking in the Krogers parking lot. The Mutt is located at 7041 E. 10th St.
O’Gara’s Irish Pub will celebrate with a St. Patrick’s Day Tent Party beginning at 6 p.m. with a $5 cover charge. Check out their corned beef and cabbage, or their Irish stew for a $5 donation. O’Gara’s is at 522 Main St. in Beech Grove.
Si Greene’s Pub, 5109 E. 10th St., will be doing St. Patrick’s Day the whole weekend, beginning with Bag Pipers on March 17 at 5 p.m., and D.J. C-Drive from 8 a.m. to close. Then, the Hangover Party on Saturday will feature the Bag Pipers at 5 p.m. and Eunan McIntyre from 9 a.m.-midnight with a new album release. There will be drink specials, corned beef, and lots of fun.
For something different, consider going on the St. Patrick’s Day Fountain Square Bar Crawl with the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Indiana. Register at https://action.aclu.org/secure/in_st_ats. The crawl starts at 3 p.m., and includes the Thunderbird, Fountain Square Brewing Co., Pioneer Indy, Marrow, La Margarita, Rook, Hotel Tango Artisan Distillery, and Bluebeard. All it takes is $10 to sign up for the crawl, and they’ll throw in an ACLU Pocket Constitution as a “Thank You” and reminder of what you are drinking for. They will be taking donations and registering people for the crawl at Thunderbird and Hotel Tango from 3 p.m .to 7 p.m. on Friday, but feel free to go ahead and registeronline.
No matter how, or where, you celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, remember that drinking and driving do not mix! Call a ride, take a teetotaling designated driver, or find a way to get home safe and sound.
