Dia duit! Why is St. Paddy’s Day spelled Paddy and not Patty? It’s because the Irish Gaelic word for Patrick is Padraig.
Spring has arrived in Tennessee, and it arrived fast! With Easter around the corner, it’s easy to make the mistake of overlooking St. Patrick’s Day celebrations and events. Maybe you have Irish heritage or maybe you just like to have an excuse to celebrate, but either way, Chattanooga has some great St. Patrick’s Day festivities that shouldn’t be overlooked!
Starting off with a bang is the Rock City Irish celebration, Shamrock City. Not only is Rock City a great tourist attraction, but it also is a great local hot spot on Lookout Mountain for festivals! Easily situated just six miles from downtown, the 15th annual event that has been consistently selected as one of the Top 20 Events by the Southeast Tourism Society is easily accessed from the city. It will have some delicious Irish food, music, beer, and games appropriate for all ages. Not to mention, as per tradition, Rock City will dye its 100-foot-tall waterfall green! If you see it at the right time, you may even get a rainbow from the spray. Shamrock City is the perfect place to let some Irishness run rampant. Kilts, bagpipes, drums, and all the wonderful things we associate with Irishness will be on full display. The festivities are pet-friendly, too, as long as they’re leashed. So, if you’re looking for a big celebration on St. Patrick’s Day, consider Shamrock City – the biggest Irish party in town!
Maybe you’re looking for something a little more local than the Mountain. If so, St Elmo Maker’s Market, the place to normally shop small and local, is making a special effort to make St. Paddy’s Day memorable. Along with live music and drinks from The Tap House, more than 25 vendors will be selling their crafted wares from 11 to 4 p.m. on March 18, the Saturday after St. Paddy’s Day. A great idea for an afternoon date or simply a good time with friends. Located at 3800 St. Elmo Avenue #114, this local gem is great to visit weekly, so it can only be even better with a little Irish flair.
For those of you with a business-always mindset, there’s something for you, too! East Brainerd Council of the Chattanooga Chamber of Commerce’s March Coffee and Connections is hosted by Heather Hendrickson from Farmers Insurance on St. Patrick’s Day at 8 a.m. Not only is it free to attend, but it can help you form connections over a cup of Irish Cream coffee and some light hors d’oeuvres. Come and enjoy a light-hearted mix-and-mingle with some friendly faces at 5811 Lee Highway, Suite #411.
Expected to be a bit more raucous than the other events in Chattanooga, the St. Patrick’s Day Party hosted by White Lightning Harley Davidson is on March 18 from 12 to 4 p.m. at 7720 Lee Highway. Enjoy live performances while sipping on a beer or eating up some delicious food. Or, if you’re more into sports, watch the Celtic games and cheer on those you want to see win! What’s more Irish than that? This event is certain to have that high-energy feeling you can expect from its hosts. If you’re fortunate, you might even win their competition to Find the Pot of Gold. Perfect to make memories with friends or meet new ones!
Do you enjoy making tasty holiday treats? From The Chattery, our local learning collective, a cute and fun cookie decorating class is upcoming featuring St. Patrick’s Day fun! Located at 1800 Rossville Avenue, Suite #108 and occurring from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. on March 11, Tina and Karla will teach all the basics of cookie decorating with three styles of the sugary holiday treats: shamrocks, leprechauns, and a green mug of beer. The cost to participate is $45.
Maybe instead of cookies, you’re looking for something a little more traditionally Irish. If so, The Chattery is also having a St. Patrick’s themed cocktail class on Thursday, March 9, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Kaleena Goldsworthy, owner and creator of The Bitter Bottle, will be teaching you how to make three themed cocktails along with basic cocktail-making skills that you can take home with you! Including the drinks and the recipe cards detailing instructions on how to make them, this is an event that you can enjoy and bring to your own St. Patrick’s Day party! Entry is $35.
Are you a runner? Do you look for any holiday-themed 5K available? Or maybe you’ve been training to do a 5K and need one to test out your training? Then you’re in luck! The Luck of the Irish 5K is entirely created to celebrate the holiday as a runner and on your own time. As this is a virtual event, you get to choose when to run the race, as long as it’s in the month of March. The cost is $19.99, but it includes a medal, bib, and an entry fee that is partially donated to the National Hemophilia Foundation. Put on by Virtual Run Events powered by Moon Joggers, you can sign up for this 6th annual St. Patrick’s Day 5K on Eventbrite. So go out there, and may the wind be at your back and other Irish blessings be upon you as you run!
The Scenic City is proud of the Irish ancestry that is rife in this part of the South, and as such, there are several different ways to celebrate the up-and-coming Irish holiday this year locally. There’s a different party for everyone, even for those who feel like partying is not their cup of tea. Give it a lash, and you will be sure to have a grand time at any of these options we have mentioned here. Sláinte is táinte!
