March 10, 2022
By Mercedes Adams
Downtown Lexington is getting ready for all things Irish! St. Patrick’s Day is right around the corner and downtown will house tons of fun events leading up to the holiday! While the Bluegrass Irish Society announced yesterday that a winter storm watch featuring freezing temperatures and high winds will cancel the parade scheduled for March 12, the Irish festival featuring arts, crafts, food vendors, and entertainment will be rescheduled to Saturday, March 19, from 11 am – 5 pm at Moondance Amphitheater. Be sure to come down for some (hopefully) warmer weather and festivities and celebrations galore! (Learn more here)
In addition to the festival next weekend, there are plenty of other celebrations taking place around downtown over the next week. The Tilted Kilt, located in South Broadway Place, is kicking off a week-long celebration featuring drinks, live music, special Irish-themed menus, and games. From March 11th – 17th, there will be $5 and under drink specials as well as live music from Brad Hardin on March 12th from 6 pm – 9 pm. On St. Patrick’s Day, March 17th, Tilted Kilt will be serving a special menu with traditional favorites of the Irish community, along with live music from 64 West. There will be prizes for crazy games like Stein Hoist, where contestants compete to see who can hold out their drink the longest without bending their arm, and a toilet paper relay race!
The quaint, Failte Irish Import Shop is the epitome of an Irish experience in downtown Lexington. Home to a variety of Irish imports and goods, Failte has everything you need to get into the holiday spirit (and to keep you from getting pinched). Enjoy the merchandise and shop local to show your support of the Irish community. The shop is located on South Upper Street with parking available on the street for a 15-minute pop-in!
If you’re looking for a genuine pub atmosphere, McCarthy’s Irish Bar might be the closest you can get in Lexington. Although they’ll also be open on St. Patrick’s Day itself, make sure to stop by for “Derek Warfield & The Young Wolfe Tones”, who will be playing on Tuesday, March 15 at 8 pm. The Young Wolfe Tones deliver Ireland’s traditional music and folk songs with an energy and skill that shows the quality of contemporaries within that tradition. The patriotic spirit of Irish music from the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s marches on in their dynamic sound. Purchase your tickets now at McCarthy’s and stop by for a visit!
In the heart of downtown, Harvey’s Bar will be celebrating St. Patrick’s Day on parade day! Opening at 11 am, serving famous green beer and $5 Jameson specials all day long. Also, check out the Irish fable-inspired murals painted on the side of Harvey’s Upper Street for some great photo opportunities to showcase Irish folklore.
We hope that you support our Irish community and shop, drink and eat your way through St. Patrick’s day at our downtown Irish-owned establishments. Remember to drink responsibly during the holiday. With the luck of the Irish, Happy St. Patrick’s Day!