Top St. Patrick's Day events in Sarasota, Bradenton, Venice, Lakewood Ranch, Punta Gorda

St. Patrick's Day falls on a Sunday this year, and many of our local Irish pubs and other venues will take advantage of the occasion with celebrations not only on March 17 proper, but the whole weekend.

Festivities will range from the family-friendly to the 21-and-up-only, and from celebrations with green beer galore to more authentic offerings (including one establishment that warns in advance "no green beer.") Yet most of these events will feature plenty of libations, favorite Irish dishes such as corned beef and cabbage, and live music and dance.

Here are the top St. Patrick's Day celebrations taking place in Sarasota, Manatee and Charlotte counties this year, presented in roughly chronological order. Event details are subject to change.

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St. Patrick's Day at Shamrock Pub

After holding a St. Patrick's Day block party for the past several years, Shamrock Pub will move its festivities inside for the "longest and coziest party in town," with live music throughout the weekend including Clover's Revenge on Friday; Gabe Hernandez, Lesa Silvermore and Physical Plant on Saturday; and Blue Skye Pipes and Drums on Sunday, plus piper Mark MacPhee and Hobson's Choice BBQ onsite serving corned beef and cabbage all three days. Friday-Sunday; Shamrock Pub, 2257 Ringling Blvd., Sarasota; 941-952-1730; facebook.com/shamrockpub

St. Patty's Day Parking Lot Party

The day-long event will feature live entertainment including local bands, Irish dancers, and pipes and drums, as well as food, beer and cocktails. Noon Saturday; British Open Pub, 367 Jacaranda Blvd., Venice; $10; 941-492-9227; facebook.com/bopvenice

Oliver Kilkenny at McCabe's Irish Pub in Bradenton

McCabe's Irish Pub, featuring a classic dark wood and green design with plenty of delightful bric-a-brac brought over by owner Thomas Stynes, who was born and raised in Ireland, will be hosting St. Patrick's Day festivities throughout the weekend. These include performances by Irish singer and entertainer Oliver Kilkenny. Noon-4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday; McCabe's Irish Pub, 302 Old Main St., Bradenton; free admission; 941-896-3126; facebook.com

St. Patrick's Day Block Party

Downtown Sarasota mainstay Gator Club will throw an outdoor block party for St. Patrick's Day with music by 22N, Johnny Diamond and DJ Kelly Crawford, and food from Smokin Momma Lora's BBQ, Fo'Cheezy Food Truck and Wings-N-Things. 6 p.m.-midnight Saturday; The Gator Club, 1490 Main St., Sarasota; free; 941-366-5969; facebook.com/thegatorclubsrq

Bradenton Alive St. Patrick’s Day Celebration

Local band Scarlet Drive will play pop, rock, country and dance music favorites and originals at this block party also featuring food trucks and vendors in the heart of downtown Bradenton. 7-11 p.m. Saturday; Old Main Street, Bradenton; facebook.com/bradentonsalive

St. Paddy’s Trip to America

Irish-American balladeer Dwight Sullivan performs a St. Patrick’s Day program of classic Irish song favorites, and Irish humor and history with scenes from modern Ireland. Guinness will be available. 7-9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday; Troll Music, 628 E. Venice Ave., Venice; $15; 941-484-8765; trollmusic.com

St. Patrick's Day at Freckled Fin

Opening at 9 a.m. on St. Patrick's Day, Freckled Fin will offer free Jameson shots for the first 30 minutes, $5 Guinness and $6 Irish coffees until 11 a.m., and free Jello shots and swag giveaways while supplies last, plus music from Josh Gilton, DJ Chaos and Acoustic Thunder, and food including corned beef and cabbage and Reubens. 9 a.m. Sunday; Freckled Fin Irish Pub, 5337 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach; 941-251-3930; freckledfin.com

St. Patrick's Day at Molly's Pub

The downtown Sarasota Irish pub will celebrate St. Patrick's Day with live music from the Corry Family Band from 1 to 5 p.m. and DJ Xtreme from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m., plus food and drink specials. 9 a.m. Sunday; Molly's Pub, 1562 Main St., Sarasota; 941-366-7711; mollyspubsrq.com

St. Patrick's Day at Celtic Ray

The authentic Irish pub ("no green beer," it warns in advance) will close off Nesbit Street again for a St. Patrick's Day party featuring live music from Shannonside (10 a.m.-noon), Clover's Revenge (noon-2 p.m.), Paul Duffy (2-5 p.m.) and Victims of Circumstance (6-9 p.m.); a limited menu including dishes such as fish and chips, Guinness stew and corned beef and cabbage, plus multiple food trucks; and two beer trucks with full-liquid mobile bars, plus an outside bar. 10 a.m.-1 a.m. Sunday; Celtic Ray Public House, 145 E. Marion Ave., Punta Gorda; 941-916-9115; celticray.net

St. Patty's Day Buffet

Mattison's Forty-One hosts this St. Patrick's Day buffet with dishes such as Irish soda bread biscuits and lamb gravy, Irish stout-braised chicken thighs, and lamb cottage pie, plus beer-battered seafood, carving, omelet and smoked salmon lox stations. 11 a.m.-3 p.m. March 17; Mattison's Forty-One, 7275 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota; $48 plus tax/gratuity; 941-921-3400; mattisons.com

St. Patrick's Day at McGrath's Irish Ale House

The Lakewood Ranch restaurant will feature Irish food and beer, live Irish music, dancers from Finnegan Academy and Drake Irish Dance, and family fun such as a magician, balloon artist, face-painters, games and inflatables. 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday; McGrath's Irish Ale House, 8110 Lakewood Main St., Lakewood Ranch; 941-210-4398; mcgrathsirish.com

St. Patrick's Day at The Shebeen

The Siesta Key Irish pub, initially opened by former Pub 32 owners Ross and Louise Galbraith and is since under new ownership, will celebrate St. Patrick's Day with live music by Fresh Air Breaks, Prodigal Sons, Ross the Piper and Emily Ann Thompson, Irish dancers, food including corned beef and cabbage and fish and chips, and Irish libations including Guinness, Harp, Kilkenny, Magners and Smithwick's. 11 a.m. Sunday; The Shebeen Irish Pub & Kitchen, 6641 Midnight Pass Road, Sarasota; 941-271-4714; facebook.com

Clancy's St. Paddy's Day Bash

The Bradenton Irish pub and tiki bar will feature continuous entertainment under a tent including bagpipers, Eric Von Band, Irish Dance Academy of Sarasota, Paul & Jeffery, Dr. Dave Band and Westbound and Down, plus food and drink including corned beef and cabbage, shepherd's pie, hot dogs, hamburgers, green beer and Irish coffee. You must be 21 or older to attend. 11 a.m. Sunday; Clancy's Irish Sports Pub & Grill, 6218 Cortez Road W., Bradenton; $5; 941-794-2489; clancysirishsportspub.com

St. Patrick's Day at Lynches Pub & Grub

The Irish pub, package store and gift store on St. Armands Circle celebrates the holiday with live music from bagpipers, Steve Arvey and more, plus a menu of Irish food and lengthy lineup of Irish whiskeys. 11 a.m. Sunday; Lynches Pub & Grub, 19 N. Blvd. of Presidents, Sarasota; 941-388-5550; lynches.pub

St. Patrick's Day at T.J. Carney's

The downtown Venice restaurant will celebrate St. Patrick's Day with live music and entertainment by Ken McBride, step dancers and bagpipers. 11 a.m. Sunday; T.J. Carneys, 231 W. Venice Ave., Venice; 941-480-9244; tjcarneys.com

St. Patrick’s Day Celebration at Fishermen’s Village

The Punta Gorda destination will feature Irish music throughout the day including Black Velvet Band, Punta Gorda Bagpipers and Jeff Walton, plus face painting and other fun including a "special appearance by the leprechaun." Noon-8 p.m. Sunday; Fishermen's Village, 1200 W. Retta Esplanade, Punta Gorda; 941-639-8721; fishermensvillage.com

Boo's St. Patty's Day Party

The Rosemary District dog bar and restaurant will feature entertainment for people and their pooch pals alike, including live music by Charles Parker Band, green beer and non-alcoholic doggy beer, "Kiss Me, I'm Irish" photobooth, dog nail trims by donation benefiting the PAWs Project, custom dog tag station/creation, and "Leprechaun on the Loose" raffle for a Boo's merch prize pack valued at $150. 2-6 p.m. Sunday; Boo's Ice House & Dog Bar, 1314 10th St., Sarasota; 941-960-2669; boosdogbar.com

St. Paddy's Day Celebration at 3 Keys Brewing

The Bradenton brewery and restaurant that regularly features Celtic music will celebrate St. Patrick's Day with live music by Mac Tier (2:30-5 p.m.) and Clover's Revenge (5:30-8 p.m.) in its beer garden. 2:30-8 p.m. Sunday; 3 Keys Brewing & Gastrobrew, 2505 Manatee Ave E, Bradenton; $8; 941-218-0396; 3keysbrewing.com

St. Patrick's Day Parade

The annual parade on Anna Maria Island will start at Holmes Beach City Hall, proceeding to 58th Street, Marina Drive, Palm Drive, Gulf Drive, Pine Avenue, Tarpon Street and Magnolia Avenue, ending at The Center of Anna Maria Island. 4-6 p.m. Sunday; Holmes Beach City Hall, 5801 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach; centerami.org/events for more information or to register

Celtic Pops

Just in time for St. Patrick’s Day, the Pops Orchestra celebrates Irish music and traditions with this concert led by music director Robyn Bell. It features the Jacobites pipe and drum group, Highland dancers and Irish Dance Academy of Sarasota. The program includes “Danny Boy,” “Tam O’Shanter” and “Scotland the Brave.” 3 p.m. Sunday; Riverview Performing Arts Center, 1 Ram Way, Sarasota and 7:30 p.m. Monday; Neel Performing Arts Center, 5840 26th St. W., Bradenton; $30-$60; 941-926-7677; thepopsorchestra.org

Email entertainment reporter Jimmy Geurts at jimmy.geurts@heraldtribune.com. Support local journalism by subscribing.

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Top St. Patrick's Day 2024 events in Sarasota, Bradenton, Punta Gorda