Many know St. Patty’s Day as a holiday filled with green beer and four-leaf clovers, but PA offers many different fun and unique events to bring you luck this March. Whether your scene is music and dance, attending parades, or getting your heart rate up with some exercise, Harrisburg, York, and Lancaster have something to get everyone in a festive spirit.
1. Music and Dance - Lancaster
For those who want to be more musically inclined this lucky holiday (or those who want to drink, but also be serenaded with beautiful music), Lancaster is the place to be. The Emerald Foundation is hosting their “Big Band Celebration” with music, dancing, and hors d’oeuvres on March 16, from 7-11 p.m.. It features a cash bar, and the musical entertainment for the night will be the Corsair Blue Jazz Orchestra. All proceeds will go to the Access to Opportunities After-School Program.
eventbrite.com/e/st-pattys-day-big-band-celebration-tickets-55030438523
Photo by Randy and Debbie Flaum
2. St. Patty’s Day Parades - Harrisburg and York
Family friendly events are also being held around this green-themed holiday. Both Harrisburg and York are hosting their own parades: on March 23, and March 16, respectively. The Grand Marshals for the York parade will be the Yeaple family, who planned their wedding in 1993 around the parade so that they could attend it with all their guests.
Harrisburg: harrisburgstpatricksdayparade.com/home.html
York: yorksaintpatricksdayparade.org/p/about.html
3. Saint Patrick’s Day Bar Crawl - Harrisburg
For the first time in Harrisburg, One Up Events is bringing an adult-friendly “bar crawl” as part of their St. Patty’s Day celebration. They had a similar event in Philly last year with a turnout of over 3,000 people and wanted to expand the fun to Harrisburg. The crawl includes more than six bars, free t-shirts, food specials, and no cover charges. The event starts at Bridges Social Club on Saturday, March 16 at 12:00 p.m..
eventbrite.com/e/st-patricks-day-bar-crawl-harrisburg-tickets-54102642460
Photo courtesy of Junior League of Lancaster
4. Run4Luck - Lancaster
If the music, dance, and drinks scene doesn’t sound up your alley, Lancaster is also home to an event that will get your blood pumping. For its 14th year, The Junior League of Lancaster is holding their Run4Luck fundraiser, and all the proceeds will support their future projects. The league is an organization of women “committed to promoting voluntarism and developing the potential of women.” There are different options to participate in the event: a kids’ fun run, a 4-mile run, and a 2-mile walk.
The events start at 9:00 a.m. on March 16, and everyone is encouraged to come in Saint Patrick’s Day themed costumes. Awards will be given to different age groups and teams, along with a “most festively dressed dog” award for the furry friends in attendance.
