The 9 Best Places to Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in Alaska!
If you’re thinking that leprechauns, shamrocks, corned beef and cabbage, Guinness, and other St. Patrick’s Day staples might be in short supply in the Last Frontier, you’ll be glad to know that Alaska knows how to throw an Irish celebration. Here are 9 of the best places to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in Alaska. You may just think you’ve slipped across the pond to the Emerald Isle.
Hangar on the Wharf Ballroom, Juneau, AK
Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with music by several local bands on Juneau’s historic waterfront. Enjoy view of the Douglas Mountains and Gastineau Channel while dancing and feasting the night away.
McGinvney’s, Juneau, AK
The winds coming down from the mountains can be cold in Juneau during the month of March, so warm yourself in the ambiance of a classic Irish pub for St. Patrick’s Day.
Salty Dawg Saloon, Homer, AK
No matter what the celebration, all roads end at the Salty Dawg Saloon in Homer. This watering hole is so popular that it brings people all the way from Anchorage and surrounding areas. As one of the first buildings in Homer and a history as a classic fishermen’s bar, you can count on finding St. Patrick’s Day fun at the Salty Dawg.
Reilly’s Irish Pub, Anchorage, AK
Soak up the old-school operated pub ambiance family-owned-and-operated pub atmosphere by celebrating St. Patrick’s Day at Reilly’s Irish Pub in Anchorage. Dance to Irish music with new friends or old while enjoying Irish food and drink.
Haines Brewing Company, Haines, AK
Good beer, good food, good people, and good fun are waiting for on St. Patrick’s Day at the Haines Brewing Company. This is where the locals go when it’s time to kick up their heels.
St. Patrick’s Day Parade, Soldotna, AK
Alaska’s only St. Patrick’s Day parade takes place in the Kenai Peninsula town of Soldotna. Leprechauns pass out candy to delighted youngsters as the parade progresses along the Kenai Spur Highway. Local businesses, civic organizations, and individuals create colorful, Irish-themed floats, marching bands, dancing troupes, and other parade staples. The parade typically begins with a community lunch and ends with a social mixer in the late afternoon.
The Bow Bar, Soldotna, AK
The community of Soldotna goes all out for St. Patrick’s Day. The celebration starts with a parade, and locals and visitors alike can top the festivities off with a night of music at dancing at The Bow Bar.
St. Patrick Catholic Church, Barrow, AK
Alaska’s most northernmost community used to go by Barrow, but it was recently changed back to the indigenous name of Utqiagvik. It’s still an alcohol-restricted community, however, which means that public revelry on St. Patrick’s Day won’t be taking place. There’s something pretty cool, though, about attending mass 330 miles north of the Arctic Circle.
The Boatel, Fairbanks, AK
A Fairbanks institution for over 40 years, this riverfront bar is the place to be any time there’s an opportunity to celebrate and fun to be had. Drinking and dancing will be on tap on St. Patrick’s Day.
