Hey Ann Arbor, St Patrick’s Day (March 17) is on a Sunday this year. That means the partying will be in full force on campus all weekend. The first time I drove my elementary aged daughter down State St on St Patrick’s Day, she saw all the students out partying and I made a mental note to avoid the area on St Paddy Day for a few more years. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t family-friendly St Patrick’s Day events in Ann Arbor and surrounding towns.
Conor O’Neill’s – Ann Arbor’s Irish Pub
Note, a reader let us know a couple of years ago that Conor O’Neill’s only admitted those 21+ on St Patrick’s Day.
If you are up for a big boisterous celebration, Conor O’Neill’s – Ann Arbor’s Irish Pub – is typically the place to be.
On Sunday, March 9, kick off St Patrick’s Day with Shamrocks & Shenanigans 5K and Kids K which ends behind Conor O’Neill.
They will be celebrating St Patrick’s Day for a long weekend (Friday, March 14-Monday, March 17). There will be Irish Music, Irish Dancing, Bagpipes, ,
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Annual St Patrick’s Day Parade
Celebrating St Patrick’s Day Parades are well known in big cities that traditionally had a large Irish American population. While there is no Ann Arbor St Patrick’s Day Parade, the Pinckney St Patrick’s Day Parade is not too far away. The parade is March 15 at noon, but no other details have been announced.
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If you’re heading to the parade, check out these festive hats or necklaces.
Kid-Friendly St Patrick’s Day Ann Arbor
There are lots of family-friendly St Paddy’s Day activities near Ann Arbor. Check out leprechaun masks and parade in Kerrytown, search for leprechaun coins by flashlight at Saline Rec Center & more.
Check out these family-friendly St Patrick’s Day Activities Near Ann Arbor.
Saturday, March 1, 2025
☘️ St Patrick's Day Story Time ☘️
11:00am-12:00pm
Dexter District Library
Saturday, March 8, 2025
☘️ Mommy and Me - Three Leaf Clover Ring Holders! ☘️
10:00am-11:00am
Whitepine Studios
Sunday, March 9, 2025
☘️ Shamrocks & Shenanigans 5K & Kids K ☘️
9:30am-12:00pm
Connor O’Neills
Wednesday, March 12, 2025
☘️ Mommy and Me - A Pot of Gold! ☘️
10:00am-10:45am
Whitepine Studios
Saturday, March 15, 2025
☘️ Run for The Gold ☘️
10:00am-11:45am
Main Street Pinckney
☘️ St Patrick's Day Parade ☘️
11:00am-1:00pm
Main Street Pinckney
☘️ Green Garlands Crafternoon ☘️
2:00pm-4:00pm
SCRAP Creative Reuse
☘️ St Patrick's Day Leprechaun - Kids Painting pARTy ☘️
2:00pm-3:00pm
Whitepine Studios
As always, if you know of events that I missed, let me know so I can get them on the calendar.
St Patrick’s Day Near Me
This map will help you find events near your home.
Events for St Patrick’s Day Last Year
Each year we make sure to check past St Patrick’s Day event listings for the current year as well as looking for new events. These are events from 2024 that we are watching for.
☘️ March 15, 2024 8:30pm-10:00pm CANCELED - Flashlights, Swim & Shenanigans at Saline Rec Center
☘️ March 17, 2024 10:00am-2:00pm Equine Explorer - St Patty's Day at Hell Creek Equestrian (formerly Heavenly Horse Stables)
☘️ March 17, 2024 11:00am-1:30pm Leprechaun Mask Making and Leprechaun Parade at Kerrytown Market & Shops
☘️ March 17, 2024 3:30pm-5:30pm My Lucky Charm - Tipsy Ypsi at Tipsy Ypsi Paint & Pour
St Patrick’s Day at Home
Of course we always celebrate St Patrick’s Day at home.
Leprechaun Mischief
The leprechauns visit our house spreading their mischief. Over the years, they have mixed up the chairs between the kitchen and dining room, flipped the ottoman upside down, and hung pictures upside down. While we avoid green beer for the kids, they have been known to dye the milk green.
Pot of Gold
The leprechauns also leave a pot of “gold” at the end of a rainbow trail. I write clues to take my daughter through items the color of the rainbow at home.
For example, the first clue left on her placemat might send her to the red sofa where she’ll find a clue for an orange object which will hold the clue for yellow, and so on. In some years I hide the “gold” at the purple object. Other years, the purple object has a clue to the final resting place.
Another idea is to use a rainbow ribbon (or multiple color ribbons) to lead to a hiding place with a pot of gold.
Irish Food
We always make sure to have a special meal for St Patrick’s Day. Corned Beef is a favorite dish for many, but I have never been a fan.
I have made Shepherd’s Pie and Irish Stew. Shepherd’s Pie is a lot of work, which I always seem to forget after a few years. I have perused the Conor O’Neill’s Menu for inspiration over the years. We have switched to a more pescatarian diet, so we may try Fish and Chips or making a shepherd’s pie with a beef substitute.
Check Out Our St Patrick’s Day Pinterest
Our St Patrick’s Day Pinterest board includes kids crafts, printables, recipes, and more. During the 2020 lockdown, my daughter and I tried the Walking Rainbow project and can report that it worked. We also created our own I’m lucky because printable.
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