Click here for St. Patrick’s Day parties and events in Iowa 2023.
St. Patrick’s Day is just around the corner. And between city parades, Irish-centric cooking classes, and a number of other celebratory events, there are plenty of ways to celebrate the holiday all throughout the state. Here’s where you can celebrate St. Patrick’s Day 2021 in Iowa.
The 46th-annual SaPaDaPaSo St. Patrick’s Day parade celebration in Cedar Rapids will be a drive-by parade at Hawkeye Downs. Attendees can circle the race track in their vehicle and view all the stationary parade entries in the infield and vote for their favorite entry. The first 200 vehicles will get a free swag bag filled with candy, coupons and Irish trinkets.
The Dyersville’s Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Mass Church celebration will take place at 10:30 a.m. at St. Francis Xavier Basilica on Saturday, March 13. The parade will start at 1:30 p.m. with the route set to wind through the downtown area.
For family-friendly community events, the St. Pat’s Bean Bag Tournament, hosted by the St. Patrick’s Association of Emmetsburg, will give attendees the opportunity to sign up and play in competing teams in their annual bean bag tournament. The event will begin at 6:30 p.m. sharp on Friday, March 19.
The General Store Pub in Stone City is a historic eatery nestled along the banks of the Wapsipinicon River that boasts undeniable charm and the occasional open mic night. This year’s St. Paddy’s celebration will feature live music on Sunday, March 14. And thanks to the space’s cozy ambience, visitors will feel as if they’re celebrating the famed holiday in the hills of the Irish countryside.
Cedar Rapids’ favorite Celtic band, Wylde Nept, will be honoring St. Paddy’s Day with traditional and original tunes at the Paramount Theatre. The concert will take place on March 13 and the party will kick off at 7:30 p.m. This live music exhibition will celebrate the value in authentic, celtic music.
The Commercial Club Park’s St. Paddy’s Day event will be hosted by Not Quite Brothers, Lonesome Road, and the Commercial Club Park. The celebration will feature buzzing live music from two local bands, along with holiday-centric drink specials and deals which will include $3 beers, shot specials, textile beer options and Happy Joe’s Pizza.
The Gaelic Gallop is one of Iowa’s most beloved running events—and thanks to its St. Patrick’s Day-themed activities, exercise can be even more fun. The running race is hosted in Dyersville and consists of a kid’s Fun Run, along with an 8k race for adults. Plus, the younger kiddos can literally hop in on the fun by competing in the Leprechaun Leap race.
For those looking to celebrate the holiday with more of a food-focus (and really who can blame you), Nina Swan-Kohler will be hosting another one of her iconic “Cooking in the Kitchen with Nina” classes, this time, with a gaelic-theme in mind. On March 17 at 6 p.m., avid cooks can join the food influencer and learn how to make a four-course Irish dinner that includes a corned beef appetizer spread, Irish soda bread and Bailey’s Irish parfaits. The cost of the class is $50.