“Finding green beer is not as hard as it used to be but, regardless, its novelty will never wear off. This is why, on March 17^th, spirited drinkers across the U.S. will be raising mugs of frothy green goodness in a celebratory toast to all things Irish! Though the celebration of St. Patrick’s Day has a long and meaningful history….here is the U.S. it has primarily become a day to celebrate a spirit: “beer” and a color: “green”.

For those of you spending this jovial holiday in Austin, Texas…you might be wondering where you can find the best place to partake in the festivities and imbibe in a good pint. Well, you have come to the right place!

Austin has a thriving Celtic community and in keeping with its musical roots, there is also a horde of Irish bands playing at venues all over town. The two best spots for unrivaled revelry are Fado’ Irish Pub on 4^th street and The Dog and Duck on Guadalupe. Both of these venues put their “greenest” foot forward on St. Patrick’s Day. They are sure to have green beer and Guinness flowing freely as well as have a great line-up of bands. The Dog and Duck is a great pub with an outdoor deck and large parking lot, which is tented to make room for all of the celebrations. The doors open at 11am and there is no cover!

Further downtown, on 4^th street, Fado’ Irish Pub will be celebrating with its usual fervor. The entire block is shut down for foot traffic only. Fado’s neighboring bars, including Lavaca Street Bar, participate in the celebrations by opening their doors early as well. You can start at 11am. Make sure and sample some of the Irish themed food, such as Bangers and Mash and Corned Beef and Cabbage…or just go for some tasty hot wings, basted in a Guinness BBQ sauce. Irish beer will abound as will a prevailing spirit of fun and goodwill.

Several other bars to check out that will have bands, beer, and Irish food are Opal Divine’s (3 locations in Austin) and B.D. Riley’s on 6^th.

One word to the wise: these venues are quite popular and you are sure to encounter large crowds, especially with the SXSW music festival just wrapping up. So, come early for parking or get someone to drop you off. Have fun……and don’t forget to wear your green!

What are your best St. Patrick’s Day memories?

So what exactly do us Texans do to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day? Where do we go? If you’re a party animal and looking for an all-night celebration then I would suggest Dallas or Austin as my second and third picks. It would take me days to list all of the activities these two fine cities offer but I’ll offer you a small sampling. My top pick? Read on . . .

For Austin, think all day street festivals and hang at places such as the Fado Irish Pub on Fourth Street or B.D. Riley’s Irish Pub on 6^th Street. If Dallas is more your speed then plan on partying at Trinity Hall Irish Pub on Mockingbird Lane or the Greenville Avenue Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade and after-party which drew more than 75,000 people last year.

But my top pick for the best St. Patrick’s Day fun would have to be the Panhandle town of Shamrock, Texas. I mean honestly, the name alone should tell you how much fun this is going to be! This year will the 62^nd Annual St. Patrick’s Day Celebration and will boast everything from parades to a motorcycle rally to lawnmower races to a Donegal Beard Contest . . . need I go on? You won’t find a better place in Texas to “celebrate the green”!

What are your plans for St. Patrick’s Day? It’s fast approaching . . .

Until next time . . .

Paige aka PJsTravelinTexas
For some other great thoughts on celebrating St. Patrick’s Day in Texas see these blogs:

1. Top 10 St. Patrick’s Day Celebrations Across the Lone Star State by Danno Wise
2. St. Patrick’s Day Planner by the CitySearch Staff in Austin
3. Houston St. Patrick’s Day Guide from the Houston Press