St. Patrick’s Day returns to Kansas City in all its green glory: Where to celebrate
After a two-year pandemic-induced interruption, the Kansas City St. Patrick’s Day Parade returns this year.
The area’s biggest parade (if you don’t count Super Bowl or World Series celebrations) was canceled in 2020 for the first time in nearly five decades because of COVID-19, then was canceled again last year.
But it is back with its traditional midtown route on the holiday itself, March 17.
There are plenty of other St. Patrick’s parades in the area — almost all of which also were canceled the past two years — and many of them kick off the holiday early this weekend. Virtually every bar, pub and brewery will offer green beer and specials. Celebrations also include concerts, races and other Irish-oriented festivities.
Here are five favorite ways to celebrate the holiday:
1. Parades
The KC St. Patrick’s Day Parade will begin at 11 a.m. March 17 at Linwood and Broadway boulevards and work its way south along Broadway to 43rd Street. The theme is “Doing an Irish Dance!,” and the grand marshal is Irish Fest board president Pete McCluskey. kcirishparade.com.
Snake Saturday on March 12 in North Kansas City includes a carnival and festival area as well as a parade, which will start at 11 a.m. snakesaturday.com.
Also:
▪ Downtown Overland Park, 10 a.m. March 12. downtownop.org.
▪ Martin City, 2 p.m. March 13. martincity.org.
▪ Downtown Shawnee, 1 p.m. March 13. cityofshawnee.org.
▪ Downtown Blue Springs (Shortest and Smallest St. Patrick’s Day Parade), 9 a.m. March 17. downtownbluesprings.com.
▪ Downtown Leavenworth, noon March 17. lvirish.com.
▪ Downtown Lawrence, 1 p.m. March 17. lawrencestpatricksdayparade.com.
▪ Downtown Lee’s Summit, noon March 19 (postponed from March 12 due to weather). downtownls.org.
▪ Brookside, 2 p.m. March 19 (postponed from March 12 due to weather). brooksidekc.org.
2. Traditional venues
▪ Kelly’s Westport Inn, 10 a.m.-2 a.m. March 17. kellyswestportinn.com.
▪ Browne’s Irish Marketplace, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. March 17. brownesirishmarket.com.
3. Big parties
▪ Westport, all day March 17. westportkcmo.com.
▪ Kansas City Live! (with Loud Luxury and DJ Ashton Martin), 5 p.m. March 17. powerandlightdistrict.com.
4. Concerts
▪ The Nace Brothers and KC’s shortest parade, 5:45 p.m. March 17, Knuckleheads ($10). knuckleheadskc.com.
▪ Socks in the Frying Pan, 6:30 p.m. March 17, Kansas City Irish Center ($15-$30). irishcenterkc.org.
5. Races
▪ St. Patrick’s Day 4-Miler, 10 a.m. March 12, Westport ($39-$44; Kids’ Little Shamrock Run, $12-$15). stpatricksday4milerun.com.
▪ St. Patrick’s 5K, 8 a.m. March 19, Park Place, Leawood ($39-$42; Kids Fun Run, $12-$15). kcstpatricks5k.com.
This story was originally published March 9, 2022 at 5:00 AM.
