The 9 Best Places to Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in Indiana!
If you're in Indiana on March 17, the day for the wearin' of the green, join Hoosiers across the state for top-o'-the-line shenanigans for one and all. Did your DNA test tell you you're not Irish? Here, have an “Honorary Irishman” button and bottoms up as you add your “Good on ya, Patty!” to the chorus.
Medieval Collectibles, Princeton, IN
First things first: If you really want to get into the spirit of this tradition-steeped holiday, you'll want to look the part. This store's section of relevant merchandise is admittedly more on the Scottish side of the awesomeness that is Celtic culture, but you’ll surely find some traditional garb in here. Add some Celtic knot work jewelry, maybe a leather worked wristband, and you're ready to go. Amid all the Kelly-green shirts, crazy shamrock sunglasses, and leprechaun wigs/hats, you'll be standing out in the crowd.
St. Patrick's Day Parade, Crown Point, IN
The northwest corner of the state holds a nighttime treat every year for all true Irish folk (and honorary alike). The local firehouse hosts a corned beef and cabbage dinner before party-goers gather along the cordoned-off streets at dusk to cheer for the parade honoring all things Irish! After the parade, enjoy a drink at the local watering hole to cap off your St. Patty's Day craic.
St. Patrick's Day at the Rathskeller, Indianapolis, IN
Most people wouldn't think to go to a Bavarian establishment for a shamrockin' St. Pat's, but the Rathskeller does make sure to set aside their lederhosen for ghillies, their knockwurst for corned beef, their kraut for stewed cabbage, and their Heineken for Guinness. It is also a sort of recognition that many European-descent Americans share ancestry from both Ireland and Germany. For St. Patrick's Day, two cultures come together in America to celebrate. Slainte, jaa!
St. Pat's March Celebration, Ireland, IN
Interestingly enough, you can go to Ireland and never leave the state of Indiana. Not to be outdone by Santa Claus, Indiana's Christmas festival, the city of Ireland hosts an annual St. Patrick's Day bash that usually lasts a few days. Activities from years past include a 5K walk/run, live entertainment, craft and bake shows, duck races, and house lighting contests. Of course, there is a parade, so get out your noisemakers, put on your flashiest green outfit, and toast the mother country!
St. Patrick's Day Parade, Muncie, IN
A favorite of the area, the St. Pat's Parade in Muncie sees young and old alike gathering the historic streets of Muncie and along the beautiful new bridge over the White River to celebrate everyone's inner Irish whether you're Irish or not. Join Ball State students, long-time denizens, and itty-bitty residents at this celebration of all things green and the saint who changed the world!
McGinley's Golden Ace Inn, Indianapolis, IN
We could have listed this under “Craic at a pub,” but if USA Today has ranked McGinley's St. Patrick's Day bash as one of the top 10 in the country, then we think it deserves a spot of its own. For over 80 years, the Ace has hosted a March 17 party like no other, and has drawn some giant names for the live entertainment … in fact, the year they were getting ready to celebrate their 30,000th day in business, their shamrock-palooza featured “America's best Irish tenor,” the band whose regular gig is the Walt Disney World pub, and a contestant-turned-independent-artist from Ireland's version of the American hit show “The Voice.” McGinley's Golden Ace is Indy's oldest Irish bar, and after celebrating St. Pat's with them, you'll understand why.
Indianapolis St Patrick’s Day Bar Crawl, Broad Ripple, IN
No, you're not seeing double … yet. Broad Ripple this holiday very seriously, so hosts not one but two pub crawls in celebration of a saint. The St. Practice Day (yes you read that right) Pub Crawl is sponsored by Circle City Athletes, the adult social sports league for central Indiana. This pub crawl is a little different from the Shamrock Stumble. You can sign up for a color team, and if your friends are coming to, you can all sign up for the same color, allowing your “score of little leprechauns” to get into all sorts of bubbly mischief together throughout the night.
Get Green Fest, Fort Wayne, IN
From the top o' the' mornin' to the last bong of the clock, party for St. Pat with the Fort Wayne Professional Firefighters at the Get Green Fest. Bring the kids out for an entire day of Irish-themed fun from picking up the coins that the leprechaun dropped to turning the St. Mary's River green to rocking out to live music and sampling amazing themed foods. Start out in the morning with the 5-Kilt (if you run in a kilt, wear skivvies please...), and then refuel your tank with the Lucky Charms eating contest as if you needed an excuse to gobble up the beloved cereal.
St. Patrick's Day Celebration, Indianapolis, IN
If you're in the Hoosier Heartland for St. Patrick's Day, jig on down to Indy where even the river runs green! The Greening of the Canal is a beloved Indianapolis tradition in preparation for the parade and block party, where Hoosiers gather from all over to don the green, wish on a shamrock, sample some Irish comfort foods, and raise a glass to the “Irish Citizen of the Year,” before working off all those green calories with a run/walk. Both the parade and the block party are free to the public, as well as family-friendly. The Hoosier Lotto Imagine That stage features live music that is guaranteed to get your toes tappin' and your Irish heart a-reelin'.
