St. Patrick’s Day Celebrations Around Michigan
Maybe your ancestors played the bagpipes and sang Danny Boy. Maybe they didn’t. It doesn’t matter, because we’re all Irish On St. Patrick’s Day! Here’s a list of places around Michigan where you can dance a little jig this weekend.
Boyne Mountain Resort, Boyne Falls
Boyne Mountain Resort’s Carnival Weekend takes St. Patrick’s Day and Mardi Gras and combines it into one wild weekend celebration affectionately called Crazy Daze by attendees. This spring celebration, March 17-19, is a time for adults to let loose and act silly. It isn’t recommended for kids. Just grownups who want to act like kids. For Boyne regulars, it’s a must-do event.
The celebration gets started Friday night with skiing, snowboarding and ziplining. You can also enjoy an Irish buffet for dinner and live entertainment at the Snowflake Lounge.
Saturday is all about the parties. The On-Hill Party goes on all day, lift ticket and ski equipment required. The Village Party starts at noon and features more live entertainment and a cook-out. The Apres Ski Party starts at 3 p.m. in the Snowflake Lounge, and the day ends with the Civic Center Party at 8 p.m. Both those parties have live entertainment too. You’ll also want to bring you craziest costume for the costume contest on Saturday.
Sunday’s big event it is the Slush Cup where you can try your hand at skimming across the pond on skis. Who will stay dry and who will get drenched? You’ll have to come see!
Special Ski and Stay packages are available for the weekend.
Traverse City
Traverse City celebrates St. Patrick’s Day with their annual Pub Walk on March 17. It starts at Minervas at noon and moves through nine other pubs, ending at State Street Grill at 10 p.m.
Grand Rapids
The seventh annual Irish on Ionia is an open-air street festival that begins at 7 a.m. March 18th in downtown Grand Rapids. It’s Michigan’s largest St. Patrick’s Day celebration. The day-long event runs through 10 p.m. and includes live music, Irish dancing, games and of course beer. Two stages will feature 14 different live acts throughout the day. Advance general admission tickets are $15 online in advance, $20 at the gate. A VIP ticket is available for $60. This event is for people age 21 and over.
Kalamazoo
The Kalamazoo Wings paint the ice green for their 36th annual St. Patrick’s Day Green Ice Game on March 17th. Enjoy $2 green beers and authentic Irish eats will you watch the K-Wings take on the Indy Fuel. The puck drops at 7 p.m. at Wings Event Center.
Bay City
On Saturday, March 18th there is a special church service at 4 p.m. at the United Church of Christ honoring St. Patrick. Then Saturday night Lumber Barons Restaurant hosts an Irish Ceili from 7 to 11 p.m. Sunday, March 19th, Bay City holds its 63rd annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade. The parade steps-off at 2 p.m. at Center and Park Avenues. Miss Michigan will make a special appearance in the parade this year.
Holland
Holland’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade kicks-off at noon March 18th at the Civic Center and ends at The Curragh Irish Pub in downtown. The pub will serve up a special St. Patrick’s Day menu for breakfast, lunch and dinner March 17th and 18th. They’ll also have live Irish music both evenings.
