Once a year, people from all over the world come together to honor their inner-Irish. Whether literally or honorary, we all have a little Irish running through our veins on St. Patrick’s Day. While many will run to the Motherland, Chicago, or Boston, Asheville’s St. Patrick’s Day shenanigans are nothing to shake your shillelaghs at!
Experience St. Patrick’s Day as the Irish intended at one of Asheville’s Irish Pubs. Claddagh Restaurant and Pub in the heart of downtown Asheville will host their annual St. Patrick’s Day Bash starting at 9am. They’ll be serving traditional Irish food, such as Corned Beef & Cabbage and Bangers & Mash, along with your favorite pup grub. They’ll have an Irish Swag giveaway, live music, and drink specials running all day. Just down the street from Claddagh, you can pub crawl your way to Jack of the Wood for their St. Patrick’s Day Celebration. Starting at 11am, Jack of the Wood will feature live Irish music, along with Aulden McGray Celtic Band taking the stage at 8pm. Enjoy Irish dishes, along with holiday-themed drink specials like green beer, Irish Car Bombs, Jameson Whiskey, Guinness, and more.
While not a traditional Irish Pub, Olde London Road Pub on Biltmore Avenue is an English-style pub that will be throwing down for their St. Patrick’s Day with Guinness & Highland Brewery. They’ll feature their special half & half beverage—half Guinness and half Highland’s Gaelic Ale. It’s no secret that Guinness stout typically leaves behind a foam mustache after the first sip, so in addition to giveaways, Guinness is encouraging legal-age drinkers to share photos on social media of their “staches” whether self-grown and groomed, drawn-on, or Guinness-enhanced. For each photo tagging @GuinnessUS and using #StacheForCharity, Guinness will donate $1 (up to $100,000) to the Guinness Gives Back Fund, which supports nonprofits that contribute to the common good in our communities.
Claddagh Restaurant & Pub
There’s the traditional way to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, and there’s the Asheville way. If you’re coming to Beer City USA, you might as well celebrate St. Paddy’s Day Asheville-style at one of our many breweries. Come out to French Broad River Brewery for delicious beers and drink specials from 11am to 10pm. French Broad is perfect for a low-key SPD; they have numerous bar games, and they’re also kid and dog friendly, so the whole family can celebrate. Archetype Brewing might just give Guiness a run for their money, as there’s a new stout in town. They’ll be having a beer release party for their Nitro Irish Stout we consider worthy of St. Patrick himself. The Blue Collar Wizard Dry Irish Stout has a smooth, malty finish and features strong notes of chocolate, tobacco, and dark fruit flavors highlighted by notes of earthy stone fruit and coffee.
Looking for something a bit more North Carolin-Irish? Check out Saint Patrick’s Day at Triskelion Brewing Company in historic downtown Hendersonville. Triskelion has a full day of activities including Celtic Rock band Bardic Alchemy performing, a Lucky Charms Eating Contest, and a “Most Irish” contest to those who bring in their 23andMe DNA readout. They’ll also have four leaf clovers hidden throughout the bar, good for a free beer to those lucky enough to find one. They’ll also be releasing their Irish Red Ale, Nac Mac Feegle.
Just like the Irish, Ashevillians love music, so it’s no surprise that we have several venues hosting special St. Patrick’s Day events. The Grey Eagle will have their annual St. Patrick’s Day throw down starting at 5pm, featuring music by Ambiguous Roots. This show is free for all ages and they’ll have Hi-Wire beer specials and swag giveaways. Pisgah Brewing Company’s St. Patrick’s Day Celebration features a live performance of Asheville’s own, The Knotty G’s. The show is free and starts at 7pm. Come out to enjoy their “soul-soaked Americana” music, along with a Pisgah pint and food from Mountain View BBQ. Singer-songwriter Hope Griffin Duo will host a St. Patrick’s Day Show at Dry Falls Brewing Company in Hendersonville. The Duo, consisting of Hope Griffin and her bandmate, Jamie Leigh, put on a Folk/Americana show that is soulful, stirring, and sure to touch your little green, Irish heart. Dry Falls will also have a special green beer release.
Avoid the leprechaun's pinch by dressing in your finest greens, and come experience the pot of gold waiting at the end of the rainbow...otherwise known as the glass of guiness waiting at the end of the bar. There’s a little Irish in us all on March 17th, but there’s also a little Asheville in us all. Sláinte!