St. Patrick’s Day 2026: What to Do Around Richmond

by Mary Soroka

St. Patrick’s Day is one of the most festive weekends of the year in Richmond. From street festivals and Irish music to bar crawls and neighborhood celebrations, the city turns green for a few days each March. Whether you’re looking for live music, a lively crowd, or a family-friendly festival, here are some of the biggest ways to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day around Richmond in 2026!

Shamrock the Block

One of Richmond’s most well-known St. Patrick’s celebrations is Shamrock the Block, a massive outdoor street festival held in Scott’s Addition. The event typically includes live music, food trucks, local vendors, and thousands of people celebrating the start of festival season in Richmond. In 2026, the event is scheduled for Saturday, March 14, running from around noon into the afternoon.

What makes it special is the atmosphere: entire streets are blocked off as people walk between stages, grab food and drinks, and enjoy the early spring weather.

If you want a big, high-energy Richmond St. Patrick’s celebration, this is usually the place to start.

Church Hill Irish Festival

Another Richmond tradition is the Church Hill Irish Festival, which celebrates Irish culture with music, dancing, and food in one of the city’s most historic neighborhoods.

The festival usually features:

Traditional Irish music and bagpipes
Irish dance performances
Local food and craft vendors
Family-friendly activities

This event has been a neighborhood favorite for decades and offers a slightly more cultural and community-focused way to celebrate the holiday.

For many locals, it’s one of the best ways to experience the spirit of St. Patrick’s Day in Richmond.

Richmond St. Patrick’s Day Bar Crawls

For those looking for a lively night out, Richmond hosts several St. Patrick’s Day bar crawls throughout the weekend.

Many of these events take place on Saturday, March 14 and Tuesday, March 17, 2026, bringing groups through some of the city’s most popular bars with drink specials and themed festivities.

Participants typically receive:

Entry to multiple bars
St. Patrick’s themed drinks and specials
Event wristbands and themed swag
After-parties at participating venues

Because many of the bars are located close together, these crawls create a fun, walkable celebration across different parts of the city.

Neighborhood Celebrations and Irish Pubs

Richmond’s Irish pubs and neighborhood bars also go all-out for St. Patrick’s Day.

Many host live music, green beer specials, and outdoor party tents throughout the weekend. Local pubs in areas like Shockoe Slip and Scott’s Addition often turn the holiday into multi-day celebrations with DJs, Irish bands, and themed menus.

These smaller celebrations can sometimes feel even more fun than the larger festivals because they bring together locals who return year after year.

St. Patrick’s Day Mass and Community Traditions

For those who prefer a more traditional observance, Richmond also hosts St. Patrick’s Day church services and community gatherings.

Events like the annual St. Patrick’s Day Mass at St. Patrick’s Church in Church Hill are followed by community breakfasts and celebrations that highlight the city’s Irish heritage.

These events reflect the cultural roots of the holiday and provide a meaningful way to celebrate the day.

Celebrating St. Patrick’s Day in Richmond

One of the things that makes Richmond fun this time of year is how many different ways there are to celebrate.

You might start the afternoon at a street festival, grab dinner at a local restaurant, and end the night listening to live music at a neighborhood bar.

From historic neighborhoods to lively festival streets, St. Patrick’s Day weekend brings together the community in a way that feels uniquely Richmond.

And whether you’re Irish or simply Irish for the day, there’s always something happening somewhere in the city.