Click here for St. Patrick’s Day events and parties in Iowa 2023.
St. Patrick’s Day is around the corner, and to help you avoid being pinched, here are the top places and events to celebrate the Irish holiday in Iowa.
Lucky’s St. Patrick’s Day Bar Crawl
Des Moines
What good is a St. Patrick’s Day celebration without a drink in hand? The fifth-annual Lucky’s St. Patrick’s Day Bar Crawl has returned to Des Moines with some of your favorite local bars in its lineup, including the Voodoo Lounge, The Copper Cup, Chummy and tons more. Each spot will offer specials in honor of the Irish holiday, and the crawl will include two drinks or two shots. Participants are encouraged to dress up for the costume contest for a chance to win the prize of $1,000. The crawl will take place on March 19, and tickets are $20.
To learn more about Lucky’s St. Patrick’s Day Bar Crawl, visit crawlwith.us.
St. Paddy’s Day Half Marathon and 5K
Des Moines
The Des Moines St. Paddy’s Day Half Marathon and 5K has been an ongoing tradition for the past six years. The annual celebration supports the ALS of Iowa Foundation and features a run (or walk) of five kilometers. The event will take place March 19, and runners who finish will be rewarded a pint of cold beer, shamrock cookies and a shiny gold medal. Registration starts at $37.99, and runners can also participate virtually.
To learn more about St. Paddy’s Day Half Marathon and 5K, visit Iowaruns.com.
Commercial Club Park’s St. Paddy’s Day Bash
Dubuque
Commercial Club Park’s St. Paddy’s Day Bash is the place to be on the holiday if you find yourself in Dubuque. The club is hosting a day-long fest with activities to help you celebrate in style, including the boozy leprechaun morning run, a St. Paddy’s Day parade, specialty handcrafted cocktails and catering from Joe’s Pizza, live music, scavenger hunts and much more fun to be had. The event is 21-plus, and begins at 6:30 a.m. on March 12.
To learn more about Commercial Club Park’s St. Paddy’s Day Bash, visit www.eventbrite.com.
Elkader’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade
Elkader
Kicking off at 5:30 p.m., the Elkader St. Patrick’s Day Parade has returned for 2022 and is bringing back the fan-favorite costume contest, magicians, Irish eats, sips and more. The event is free and open to the public, and surrounding businesses will be providing discounted bites in honor of the holiday.
To learn more about Elkader’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade, visit Elkader-iowa.com.
Twin Span Brewery St. Paddy’s Day Celebration
Bettendorf
Twin Span Brewery in Downtown Bettendorf is hosting its own shamrock fest with live music from Irish duo Alan and Alex, who will be setting the perfect mood for the bash. The night kicks off at 6 p.m. and will feature ice-cold craft beers, incredible bar-style bites and a crowd that might pinch you if you are not wearing green.
To learn more about Twin Span Brewery St. Paddy’s Day Celebration, visit twinspanbrewing.com.
SaPaDaPaSo’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade
Cedar Rapids
Bundle up and gather your little ones for SaPaDaPaSo’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Cedar Rapids. The annual parade has been running rain or shine for 45 years by a local nonprofit group and is the longest-running Irish tradition in all of Iowa. The celebration will take place on March 12 and will feature your favorite displays, gift giveaways, shops, fare and much more. The parade is free to the public, with fees for food and shop items.
To learn more about SaPaDaPaSo’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade, visit sapadapaso.org.