Whiskey, beer, and good cheer – that’s what St. Patrick’s Day is all about here in Boulder, Colorado. This year, the festivities will carry on all weekend and finish up on Monday the 17th. While there will be plenty of bars serving Guinness and car bombs as far as the eye can see, there will also be other, more low-key celebrations to enjoy.
Conor O’Neill’s
Everyone in Boulder knows that Conor’s is the best Irish pub in town, so naturally this is where you’ll want to be on St. Patrick’s Day. The live music and great drink selection have turned Conor O’Neills into one of Boulder’s most beloved local hangouts. This year’s Irish festivities kick off on Friday and carry on until the following Monday. Slainte!
The weekend-long celebration will start off with Irish dancing at 5pm. The evening will continue with Blackberries in a Jar at 8pm, and some more Irish dancing from 8-10pm. Big Paddy comes on at 10pm, and will play throughout the rest of the evening. And that’s just Friday…
Hopefully you won’t be feeling too rough in the morning, because Saturday’s celebrations start even earlier. Irish dancers will perform form 2-4pm, followed by a performance by Monocle Duo. At 7pm the Irish dancers will put on another show, and at 10pm James and the Devil hit the stage.
Sunday will also be packed with Irish cheer. The “World’s Shortest St. Patrick’s Day Parade” kicks off outside of Conor’s at noon, followed by an outdoor festival filled with Irish dancing and live music. A traditional “Irish Music Open Session” will begin that evening, and carry on until 1:30am.
The jam-packed weekend is only the prelude to St. Patrick’s Day. That Monday, Conor O’Neills will open at 8am for a day of drinking shenanigans.
Irish Bagpipers, and fiddlers will play throughout the day, while Irish step dancers let loose. Once the sun has set, a slew of live bands will play long into the night. Talk about a celebration! Needless to say, Conor’s certainly knows how to celebrate in true Irish style.
More Pubs Please!
The Lazy Dog is one of Boulder’s best sports bars, and a popular hangout for college students. If you and your friends are planning on creating your own mini-pub crawl, you’ll definitely want to plan on stopping here.
Pearl Street Pub & Cellar is another great bar to visit on St. Patrick’s Day. It’s got a true pub vibe with plenty of live music, pool tables, and even a foosball table or two.
West End Tavern is another one of Boulder’s beloved bars. They’ve got one of the best beer and whiskey selections in town. In honor of St. Patrick’s Day, the West End will feature performances by Irish dancers, along with a selection of traditional Irish Fare. There will be plenty of drink specials, including car bombs, Irish beer, and Whiskey.
Shine Restaurant & Gathering Place
If green beer and car bombs aren’t quite your scene, but you still want to get out and participate in some Irish fun, Shine’s where you’ll want to be. Boulder’s very own Irish punk band, The Horse Paws, will be playing from 8:30–10:30pm. They’re a fun and upbeat combination of Irish punk and American bluegrass, so be prepared to dance.
As you can see, this town has its share of fun to partake in for St. Patrick’s Day weekend. From pubs and taverns to live performances and dancing, St. Patrick’s Day in Boulder is always an unforgettable experience.