NOTE: Many local events are being canceled or postponed this week due to the coronavirus. Check their website or social media page before going. Or consult our list of canceled events HERE.
The green beer will flow this St. Patrick’s Day in Southwest Florida. But there’s more happening than just the booze.
The festivities include parades, bagpipes, Irish dancers, baby leprechaun races and even a Buddy Holly tribute show.
Here are our picks for fun events happening March 14-17 in Southwest Florida. This isn’t a complete list, though. Many other local bars and venues are planning green beer, live bands and other St. Patrick’s Day events. Check the websites and Facebook pages for your favorite local haunts.
SATURDAY, MARCH 14
CANCELED Naples St. Patrick’s Day Parade: The annual parade starts at the intersection of Third Street South and 10th Avenue South. Then it travels north on Third Street South, east on Fifth Avenue South and south on Eighth Street South to Naples City Hall. 11 a.m. Saturday. Free. Downtown Naples. naplesparade.com
Lucky’s St. Patrick’s Day Bar Crawl: This St. Patrick’s Day-themed bar crawl includes two free drinks or other items, a costume contest with a $500 prize, drink specials, an after party and free admission to participating venues with your pub crawl badge and lanyard. At least six downtown bars are participating: City Tavern, Downtown Social House, Hideaway Sports Bar, Millennial Brewing Company, Space 39 and The Lucky Screw. More venues are expected to be added. Check-in is at City Tavern, where you’ll get a bar crawl map and lanyard. 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. $20. Downtown Fort Myers. crawlwith.us/fortmyers/stpattys
Third annual St. Patrick’s Day Mall Crawl: Bell Tower Shops and iHeartMedia join forces again for two hours of revelry, food, drink and prizes. Radio personalities from four Southwest Florida radio stations will play music and meet with fans. Stop at stores and participate in various challenges, including jumping jacks, trivia and floss dancing. Participating restaurants will offer Irish-themed food and drink specials (including green beer). 6-8 p.m. Free. Bell Tower Shops at U.S. 41 and Daniels Parkway, south Fort Myers. 489-1221 or thebelltowershops.com
St. Practice Day: “Practice” for St. Patrick’s Day with this early event featuring live music all day, green beer, whiskey, dueling pianos from 8 p.m. to midnight, drink specials and more. 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Free. The Keys Bar and Grille in Gulf Coast Town Center, 9905 Gulf Coast Main St., San Carlos Park. 433-3323 or facebook.com/TheKeysBarandGrille
Shenanigan’s Wake parade party: The local “Celt-rock” band plays at this party happening on the same day as the annual Naples St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Plus local folk band The Woodwork and ax throwing. 6-9:30 p.m. Free. Whiskey Park, 3380 Mercantile Ave., Naples. 263-6777 or facebook.com/WhiskeyPark.Naples
SUNDAY, MARCH 15
CANCELED St. Patrick’s Day Block Party: The annual block party includes live bands, food and drink specials and family activities. The live bands include The Crank Ups, Red Hannah and Faded Roots. Noon to 10 p.m. Free. Downtown Fort Myers. fortmyersriverdistrictalliance.com
Baby Leprechaun Races: Babies crawl to the finish line and compete for prizes in this annual event. Register at 11 a.m. at WINK Playland. 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday. Free. Miromar Outlets, 10801 Corkscrew Road, Estero. 948-3766 or miromaroutlets.com
MONDAY, MARCH 16
CANCELED Fort Myers Beach St. Patrick’s Day Parade: The annual parade travels along Estero Boulevard from Santini Marina Plaza North to the Church of the Ascension. The boulevard will be closed for about one hour, starting at 9:45 a.m. The parade starts at 10 a.m. Free. Takes place on Estero Boulevard in Fort Myers Beach. 591-8803 or fortmyersbeach.org/events/st-patricks-day-parade
TUESDAY, MARCH 17
St. Patrick’s Day Bash: This free event includes live Irish music by Chuck Peterson, Irish food, green beer, Irish music and dancers, bagpipers, an Irish costume contest and more. Noon to 7 p.m. The Shell Factory & Nature Park, 2787 N. Tamiami Trail, North Fort Myers. 995-2141 or shellfactory.com
Fishermen’s Village St. Patrick’s Day Celebration: Family-friendly holiday celebration with live music, a parade featuring members of Lee County Pipes & Drums (5:30 p.m. at Center Court), step dancers, Irish food at Village restaurants and more. Noon to 9 p.m. Free. Fisherman’s Village, 1200 W. Retta Esplanade, Punta Gorda. 941-639-8721 or fishville.com
Two Flynns St. Paddy’s Day Celebration: Boston standup comedians Jackie and Kevin Flynn perform at 7 p.m. at Off The Hook Comedy Club, 2500 Vanderbilt Beach Road, No. 1100, Naples. Fans will recognize both, Jackie for appearances on the TV show “King of Queens” and movies like “There’s Somethign About Mary,” and Kevin in the film “Me, Myself and Irene” with Jim Carrey and in the popular HBO series “Sex and the City.” From $25. offthehookcomedy.com and 239-389-6901
Saint Patrick’s Day 2020 at The Celtic Ray: The Irish pub celebrates with food trucks, a limited menu and live music from Paul Duffy and Stephen’s Green. There won’t be green beer, though. Noon to 2 a.m. Sunday. Free. The Celtic Ray Public House, 145 E. Marion Ave., Punta Gorda. 941-916-9115 or celticray.net
Paddy Murphy’s: Celebrate the holiday with live Irish music from 11 a.m. Tuesday to 2 a.m. Wednesday. Free. Paddy Murphy’s, 457 Fifth Ave. S., downtown Naples. 649-5140 or paddymurphys.com
CANCELED St. Patrick’s Day Trolley: This sixth annual pub crawl lets you ride trolleys and party buses throughout downtown Cape Coral and stop at 12 different places for holiday-themed custom drinks. 7-11 p.m. $17 plus $2.50 for each drink. Check-in happens at Big John Plaza and in front of Dixie Roadhouse, downtown Cape Coral. facebook.com/SouthCapeHospitalityAndEntertainmentAssociations
Nervous Nellie’s St. Paddy’s Day Bash: The Fort Myers Beach restaurant celebrates the holiday with corned beef and cabbage and live music from The Collaboration Band, Deb and the Dynamics and the Dweebs. Noon to 10 p.m. Free. Nervous Nellie’s, 1131 First St., Fort Myers Beach. 463-8077 or facebook.com/NervousNelliesFMB
Clancey’s St. Patrick’s Day Celebration: The party includes green beer, live entertainment and a St. Patrick’s Day menu with shepherd’s pie, corned beef and cabbage, and other Irish dishes. 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Free. Clancey’s Restaurant, 11481 McGregor Blvd., Fort Myers. 482-3241 or clanceysrestaurant.com
The Rowdy Bards: The Irish pub band sings, tells stories and performs skits and comedy at this St. Patrick’s Day party that includes Irish dancers, bagpipers, a deejay, drink specials and a Celtic menu. 11 a.m. Tuesday to 2 a.m. Wednesday. Free. The Pub Naples, 9118 Strada Place, Naples. 594-2748 or facebook.com/PubNaples
St. Paddy’s Party at The Dek: The bar calls this “the biggest, best, most debaucherous party in SWFL.” Live music all day, plus corned beef and cabbage and lots of drink specials (including whiskey, green beer and car bombs). 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Free. Dek Bar, 4704 S.E. 15th Ave., Cape Coral. 542-3745 or facebook.com/thedekbar
Johnny & Patti Revue St. Paddy’s Day Party: Singing couple Johnny and Patti Russo sing pop, rock, country and dance hits from the 50s to today at this holiday dinner party. The restaurant will be serving up corned beef and cabbage and more. Starts at 6 p.m. Free. Victory Lane Café, 4120 Hancock Bridge Parkway, Cape Coral. 995-0340 or facebook.com/VictoryLaneCafe
Buddy Holly tribute show: Johnny Rogers performs as Buddy Holly at this St. Patrick’s Day party with green bear and a corned-beef-and-cabbage buffet. 7-10 p.m. $15-$20. Reservations required for dinner ($16). Double Eagle Event Center, 350 Homestead Road S., Lehigh Acres. 230-8952 or facebook.com/DoubleEagleEventCenter
Dueling pianos: Celebrate the holiday with a dueling piano show starting at 4:30 p.m., plus food, green drinks and more. 3-8:30 p.m. Free. Johnny Malloy’s Sports Pub, 10347 Bonita Beach Road S.E., Bonita Springs. 992-5000
Shamrock Fun Run: This 3K fun run and social includes food, drinks and prizes for St. Patrick’s themed costumes. Organized by Gulf Coast Runners. 6-8 p.m. Tuesday. $10. Naples On The Run, 20 10th St., Naples. https://runsignup.com/gcrstpatricksday
Irish dancers: Dancers from Tir Na Nog Academy of Irish Dance Southwest Florida perform. 5 p.m. Tuesday. Free. The Village Shops on Venetian Bay, 4200 Gulf Shore Blvd. N., Naples. 261-6100 or facebook.com/VenetianVillage
St. Patrick’s Day Blowout: This all-day party includes live Irish music from Donnacha Tierney, West of Galway and Crooked Gypsy, plus Irish food and more. 9 a.m. Tuesday to 2 a.m. Wednesday. Free. Whiskey Park, 3380 Mercantile Ave., Naples. 263-6777 or facebook.com/WhiskeyPark.Naples
Johnny & The Jam Kings: The rock band plays this party featuring green beer, corned beef and cabbage and more. 5:30-9:30 p.m. Free. Anthony’s on the BLVD, 1303 Del Prado Blvd. S., Cape Coral. 772-5900 or anthonysontheblvd.net
St. Patrick’s at The Point: Celebrate with Irish-themed craft beer and live Irish music from Malarkey. 6-9 p.m. Free. Point Ybel Brewing Company, 16120 San Carlos Blvd., south Fort Myers. 603-6535 or facebook.com/PointYbelBrew
Connect with this reporter: Charles Runnells (Facebook), @charlesrunnells (Twitter), @crunnells1 (Instagram)
