Where to Celebrate St. Patty's Day in Boston

Get in the Irish spirit at Battery Park Bar and Lounge’s Shake Your Shamrocks St. Patty’s Day Bash. (Photo by Melissa Ostrow.)

Boston is known for hosting the best festivals and restaurant events for St. Patrick’s Day, and this year is no different. If you’re looking to celebrate, get ready to go all-out with our guide to navigating the many Irish pride activities going on all around town.

South Boston St. Patrick’s Day Parade
It’s the second-largest parade in the country, and this year, its organizers anticipate a crowd of at least 600,000 on hand to watch the procession of live bands and bagpipers, shamrock floats, and costumed Star Wars characters. Get a spot along the three-mile route early — they fill up fast. (Need help? Check out our handy St. Patty’s parade guide.) Stick around afterward and catch the Veterans For Peace and Massachusetts Peace Action’s St. Patty’s Day Peace Parade at 2 p.m. Sunday, March 18, 1 p.m., parade starts at the Broadway MBTA station, W. Broadway, and Dorchester Ave., Boston, southbostonparade.org.

Shamrock Shuffle Bar Crawl
Hit up all your favorite spots on St. Patrick’s Day with the Shamrock Shuffle Bar Crawl. Starting at the Hard Rock Cafe, the crawl will include Clarke’s, Kitty O’Shea’s Irish Pub, The Place, Battery Park Bar & Lounge, and SideBar and Grille. Saturday, March 17, 12 p.m. to 9 p.m., registration at The Hard Rock Cafe, 22-24 Clinton St., $15-20, barcrawls.com.

The World’s Largest Pub Crawl
Celebrate all weekend with a three-day-long pub crawl. This year, some 25 bars are participating in “The World’s Largest Pub Crawl,” which includes Friday’s Happy Hour Pub Crawl, Saturday’s Luck of the Irish Pub Crawl, and if you make it to Sunday: the Hangover Pub Crawl. Friday through Sunday, March 16 to 18, registration at Good Bar, 183 State St., Boston, and Mija Cantina, 1 Faneuil Hall, Boston, pubcrawls.com.

Lansdowne Pub’s St. Patrick’s Day Party
Get festive at the Lansdowne Pub’s third annual St. Patrick’s Day Party. The bar will be open all day with live music starting at noon. Come to hear Irish and alternative rock bands Ivy Leaf, Dublin Free Press, Great Whiskey Rebellion, Bearfight Irish Mashup, and Bearfight. Saturday, March 17, 10 a.m. to 1 a.m., The Lansdowne Pub, 9 Lansdowne St., Boston, 617-247-1222, lansdownepubboston.com.

Shake Your Shamrocks St. Patty’s Day Bash
It will be all Irish all day at Battery Park Bar and Lounge’s Shake Your Shamrocks St. Patty’s Day Bash. Chow down on corned beef and cabbage, and chase it with green beer while you listen to live music from the Boston Police bagpipe band and Gaelic Column of Pipes and Drums. With the festivities starting in the morning, you can come for a short while or stay all day. Saturday, March 17, 11 a.m., Battery Park Bar and Lounge, 33 Batterymarch St., Boston, 617-350-7275, batteryparkboston.com.

Ireland versus England 6 Nations Rugby Viewing Party
Calling all sports fans: Stadium Bar & Grill is hosting a viewing party for the Ireland versus England 6 Nations Rugby game. Cheer on your team and enter the raffle for T-shirts, hats and other prizes. Come prepared to compete, because there will be trivia and other games. Saturday, March 17, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Stadium Sports Bar & Grill, 232 Old Colony Ave., Boston, 617-269-5100, charlesriverrugby.com.

Greene O’Leary’s School of Irish Dance Performance
Get a taste of Irish culture with an Irish step dancing performance. Dancers from Greene O’Leary’s School of Irish Dance, which was founded in Scotland and relocated to Boston in 1962, will perform their routines for the public. Friday, March 16, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., South Station, Atlantic Ave. and Summer St., Boston, greeneoleary.com.

St. Patrick’s Modern Irish Whiskeys
Learn more about the growing industry of modern Irish whiskey in America, with its light, flavorful, and still relatively unknown spirits. Instructor Curtis McMillan will speak about new brands, including Bunratty and Potcheen, Michael Collins, Red Brest, Connemara, and Greenore. Friday, March 16, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., Gordon’s Fine Wine & Culinary Center, 894 Main St, Waltham, 800-696-9463, gordonswines.com.