Although sister city Savannah is much more well known as a St. Patrick’s Day destination, folks wanting to have a great time and placate their inner-leprechaun – without fighting the crowd – would be well-served to consider lovely, historic Charleston this St. Patty’s.
What Charleston’s celebration lacks in size it more than makes up for in spirit, and visitors will be rewarded with an event that is spirited and enjoyable without being unmanageably large.
The great news is that, in addition to the weekend’s festivities, visitors can soak up some of the more quintessential activities in a city that’s consistently voted as one of America’s favorites.
On Friday visitors can enjoy a slice of classic Charleston by taking in a savory dinner at any of a number of award-winning dining establishments on and around East Bay Street. Among countless others, Sean Brock of Husk has been receiving accolades for creating a strong locavore movement in the Charleston restaurant scene; likewise, Chef Joe Palma has been drawing rave reviews after recently taking the helm at High Cotton. After dinner, visitors can appreciate the haunted history of Charleston by way of a ghost tour.
On Saturday start the day right with the breakfast of champions – kegs and eggs! Mad River Bar & Grille – which has the unique distinction built in an abandoned church (hey, this is Charleston after all) – will start the day with a kegs and eggs breakfast. The first 100 patrons also get to enjoy a free t-shirt.
Once the parade has come and gone, enterprising visitors can participate in the Saint Paddy’s Luck of the Irish PubCrawl as a means to both quench their thirst and enjoy some of Charleston’s more colorful drinking establishments. Those who haven’t had quite enough for one day may wish to round out the evening at O’Malleys, which will feature live music by Ben Fagan and the Holy City Hooligans from 7 to 10 p.m.
On Sunday, visitors can take a jaunt down to scenic and sunny Hilton Head Island, whose St. Patty’s day celebrations run a day behind those of nearby Savannah. With festivities not kicking off until 3 PM, even the foggiest of revelers will have plenty of time to recover from the night before.
Finally, on the way back to Charleston, visitors may want to swing by Beaufort – the quaint town of Forrest Gump fame – which will be hosting the Spring Art Walk from 5-7:30 PM.
Robert is a Charleston transplant who will be enjoying all the sights, sounds, and sundries of St. Patricks day in various bars and restaurants this year!