Before you know it, you’ll be celebrating St. Patrick’s Day once again. Do you have any plans for the holiday yet? Have you spoken with your fellow Beacon Hill residents about your plans?
If you’re still preparing for the big day, here are some local events—both within and outside of Grand Rapids—for you to consider. Some will be occurring on St. Patrick’s Day itself, while others will be happening beforehand.
Aside from these events, we have a couple suggestions, regarding the ways you can celebrate St. Patrick’s Day at Beacon Hill, too.
5th Annual Shamrock Run, Walk, or Roll, Saugatuck. Three days before St. Patrick’s Day, Saugatuck will be hosting yet another Shamrock Run, Walk, or Roll. An annual event since 2023, it will begin at Wicks Park Bar and Grille at 10:30 a.m. Feel free to wear Irish attire while walking with your fellow Beacon Hill residents, family members, or other friends.
Cook some traditional Irish foods. Either on, before, or after St. Patrick’s Day, take some time to cook some traditional Irish fare at your residence. Or perhaps your neighbor or friend will cook instead? Either way, don’t forget to relish items such as corned beef and cabbage, shepherd’s pie, and stew. You can’t go wrong with desserts like apple tarts and bread pudding as well!
Holland Leprechaun Chase 5K. Founded by the Holland Running Club, this event will provide you yet another opportunity to exercise, socialize with friends, and enjoy the spirit of St. Patrick’s Day—all at once. During the 5K, you’ll run, jog, or walk through gorgeous areas like Windmill Island Gardens. It will be a day full of fun and beautiful sights!
House of Hamill, Muskegon. This year, House of Hamill—an electric folk band—will be performing a concert at the West Michigan Symphony. Held on March 13 at 7:30 p.m., the concert will be focused on Irish music, particularly Irish fiddling. If you’ve been interested in attending a concert, but haven’t been able to lately, this is a great opportunity for you!
Irish Jig, Grand Rapids. There is more than one reason to participate in the Irish Jig this year. Aside from celebrating St. Patrick’s Day, the 5K will help fund cancer care and research for Corewell Health and Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital. By participating, you’ll be supporting your fellow West Michigan residents, while also treasuring time spent with other people.
Irish Jog 5K/10K, Ludington. Do you consider yourself a runner? Do you know of anyone that’s a runner who would like to participate in this year’s Irish Jog (that you could support from the sidelines)? If not, this event is open to walkers, too. The bottom line? Everyone is welcome to participate and celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in beautiful Ludington on March 14!
Purchase gifts from Real Irish. Did you know there is a website dedicated to authentic Irish gifts? From caps and jewelry, to art and blankets, to cologne and perfume, RealIrish.com has virtually everything you can think of. Why not celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with a purchase (or a few purchases) from the website, enabling you to enjoy the holiday at your residence, too?
St. Patrick’s Day Parade, Grand Rapids. On March 14, Grand Rapids will have its annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Beginning at 11 a.m. at Monroe Avenue and Lyon Street, the parade will end at Fulton Street and Barclay Avenue. Bundle up and relish this yearly tradition! If you’d like to possibly participate instead, visit this link.
St. Patrick’s Day Parade, Kalamazoo. If you’d like to venture outside of Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo will also be hosting a St. Patrick’s Day Parade on March 14. In the past, the parade has featured participants like the Saints, an Irish Ice Hockey Association team. Celebrate Irish pride outside of the River City this year!
Visit local Irish-themed restaurants. In addition to enjoying meals at your residence (or a fellow Beacon Hill resident’s residence), take some time to support local restaurants as well. From downtown Grand Rapids to Holland, West Michigan has various Irish-themed restaurants to choose from year-round, including Dublin Hall, O’Toole’s Public House, Quinn & Tuite’s Irish Pub, and The Curragh Irish Pub.
As shown, there is plenty to do in West Michigan this time of year. So, go ahead and meet with your friends, seek out some adventures, and celebrate St. Patrick’s Day at Beacon Hill or nearby!
