St. Patrick's Day 2023: Irish pub, event guide for Jacksonville, Fla

You don’t have to be Irish to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in the Jacksonville area. Heck, you don’t even have to wait until St. Patrick’s Day. Here are some good opportunities to dress in green over the next week or so:
March 11-12 at Francis Field in St. Augustine
It’s about a week early for St. Patrick’s Day, but the annual fest celebrating all things Celtic is back for a weekend of Highland games, whiskey tastings, peat-smoked haggis and live music from Albannach, Seven Nations, the Dublin City Ramblers and the Steel City Rovers. The St. Augustine St. Patrick’s Day Parade winds through the streets of the city’s historic district starting at 10 a.m. Info: celticstaugustine.com
8 a.m. Sunday, March 12, at Evergreen Cemetery
5K and 10K St. Patrick’s-themed races benefit the Springfield Historical Society. Info: 1stplacesports.com
More to see, do:100 things to do in March: Amelia Concours, The Players, Gate River Run and more
Dinner with a view:Best waterfront restaurants with a view in Jacksonville’s Beaches
In case you missed it:Looking for a great pizza? Here are 7 of our favorite Jacksonville places to get a slice
2:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 15, at the Amelia Musical Playhouse
The theater’s Senior Theatre Project puts on a show of music, readings and comedic sketches. Info: ameliamusicalplayhouse.com
8 a.m. Friday, March 17, at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church
With all the shamrocks and leprechauns, it’s easy to forget that there really was a St. Patrick, and he has a church named in his honor at 601 Airport Center Drive E. in Jacksonville. Info: dosafl.com
4 p.m. Friday, March 17, at Sneakers Sports Grille in Jacksonville Beach
One ticket covers the Friday and Saturday bar crawl, which includes stops at Sneakers, Brix Taphouse, Flask & Cannon, the Ritz, Ruby Beach Brewing and Salt in Jacksonville Beach. Info: crawlwith.us/jacksonville/stpattys
6 p.m. Friday, March 17, at the Riverside Children’s Art Center
Drop off the kids for an evening of group games, scavenger hunts, green and gold snacks and a prize for the kid wearing the most green. Info: riversidechildrensartcenter.org
6 p.m. Friday, March 17, at Kona Skatepark
Skating and all-ages concert featuring Kabuki Nut Shot, Divided Truth and Radiation Brain Trash. Info: facebook.com
7 p.m. Friday at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena
Jacksonville’s hockey team takes on the Savannah Ghost Pirates and invites fans to wear green for the game. In a special offer, $25 gets you a ticket and a green beer from Ruby Beach Brewing during a pregame party. Info: jacksonvilleicemen.com
7 p.m. Friday, March 17, at the Justice Pub
Nothing says Irish quite like a night of metal bands, right? Bloodcrest, Brthrs of !LL, Graveyard Gang, Year Zero, Leshii, Fantum and others are on the bill. Info: facebook.com/thejusticepub
Jacksonville has its fair share of Irish bars, and many of them will be serving green beer and Guinness to celebrate the holiday. Here’s what we’ve found:
April 2 at the Florida Theatre
This show is a couple of weeks late for St. Patrick’s Day, but these two bands are the real deal. Gaelic Storm is from California, but their sound is genuine enough that they were cast as the band that plays for the Irish steerage passengers in “Titanic.” The High Kings have played at St. Patrick’s Day celebrations in the White House and the Lord Mayor of London’s St. Patrick’s Day concert. Info: floridatheatre.com