The day of the Irish is approaching and spots around Arlington are planning to paint the town green next week.
From community events to live music at local pubs, there will be a steady stream of events leading up to and on St. Patrick’s Day.
The festivities start bright and early this Saturday — St. Paddy’s eve — at 8:30 a.m. with a 50-minute “Fun Run” that will start and finish at Ireland’s Four Courts (2051 Wilson Blvd). The Courthouse pub reopened last year after rebuilding after a fiery crash.
Those who prefer a slower start to the day can head to O’Sullivan’s Irish Pub in Clarendon (3207 Washington Blvd) at 9:15 a.m. Saturday to watch a championship rugby game between Italy and Scotland, followed by a match between Ireland and England at 11:45 a.m. This game will be shown at O’Sullivan’s and Four Courts.
That evening, Mattie & Eddie’s Irish Bar and Restaurant in Pentagon City (1301 S. Joyce Street) will have a live performance from the Boyle School of Irish Dance at 7:30 p.m.
And those are just a few of the planned happenings.
St. Patrick’s Day weekend has a packed slate of events, beginning Friday, March 15:
- A social at the Walter Reed Community Center (2909 16th Street S.) from 12-2 p.m with music from the Sunshine Gang and light refreshments.
- A luncheon with Irish music at the Aurora Hills Community Center (735 18th Street S.) for guests 55 and older from 12:30-2:30 p.m. Registration for the $15 event is required.
- Live music at Ireland’s Four Courts begins at 8 p.m.
- McNamara’s Pub & Restaurant (567 23rd Street S.) will have Irish karaoke from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.
- Mattie & Eddie’s will have a whiskey tasting at 5 p.m. and celebrate Arthur Guinness’s birthday from 7-10 p.m.
The festivities continue Saturday:
- Ireland’s Four Courts will open at 8:30 a.m. with a day of Irish dancing and live music.
- Punch Bowl Social (4238 Wilson Blvd) will host the “St. Patty’s Palooza” at 11 a.m. complete with Irish whiskey-based cocktails, bowling, karaoke and a scavenger hunt, among other activities. Registration is required but admission is free.
- Inca Social (1776 Wilson Blvd) will serve Peruvian and Irish fusion dishes and green beer for its celebration and will have a St. Patrick’s Day special until the following Monday. Tickets can be purchased online.
- Clarendon Ballroom (3185 Wilson Blvd) is partying from 3 p.m. to 2 a.m. with live performers, giveaways, green beer and other activities. Tickets can be purchased online.
- St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church (4000 Lorcom Lane) will host a St. Patrick’s Day Dinner from 7-8:30 p.m. complete with singing wait staff, a raffle and a limerick competition. Doors open at 6 p.m. and tickets can be purchased upon arrival.
- McNamara’s will have live music from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m.
- Mattie & Eddie’s will serve Guinness pints with customized foam, using a ripple machine, starting at 1 p.m. The Boyle School of Irish Dance returns at 7 p.m.
The pace of events winds down on Sunday, March 17 — actual St. Patrick’s Day — with these events:
- Ireland’s Four Courts will be open at 8:30 a.m. and have live music throughout the day.
- Live music at Mattie & Eddie’s begins at 2 p.m. with a modern take on Irish music followed by acoustic music from 5-9 p.m.
Lyft and SoberRide, meanwhile, will be providing free rides to area residents who are 21 and older on Sunday.
Residents need to download the Lyft app and enter SoberRide code in the payment tab to receive a ride at no cost. The free ride will be available starting at noon Sunday until midnight. The SoberRide promo code will be posted at 11 a.m. that day.
Photo by Patrick Fore on Unsplash