On March 17th, Americans will tap into their Irish ancestry and celebrate Ireland’s most well-known saint. Even those who have no connection to Ireland whatsoever participate in the festivities every year by wearing as much green as they possibly can. Whether you are looking for some family fun or want to party into the wee hours, Charlotte is the best place to get into the spirit of St. Patrick’s Day! 
Twentieth Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade
When: March 19, 2016 at 11 a.m.
Where: The parade begins at Tryon and 9th Street and marches south to 3rd Street, where it takes a left and marches down 3rd Street to Caldwell.
The Twentieth Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade is a must-see event for everyone in Charlotte. The parade had over 80,000 spectators last year and it is expected to be even larger this year. Produced by the Charlotte St. Patrick’s Day Parade Foundation, this event will feature neighborhood associations, international organizations, elected officials, alumni groups, cheerleading and drill teams, local businesses, and many more. The Grand Marshall for this year’s parade is Anne Anderson, Ireland’s Ambassador to the U.S. It is free to attend and is guaranteed to delight every Charlottean, from young to old.
2016 Charlotte Goes Green Festival
When: March 19, 2016 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Where: South Tryon Street between Stonewall Street and 3rd Streets
After the parade, head to the Charlotte Goes Green Festival and get into the Irish spirit. The festival will have Irish dancers, Irish music (including bagpipers), and Irish/Celtic vendors for you to browse. Take the kids to the large children’s amusement area while you grab a bite to eat from one of the many vendors. Beer will be available for the duration of the festival (Guinness, of course) and if you don’t want to bother with parking, you can take the LYNX train from south Charlotte to the parade.
Rich & Bennett’s 16th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Pub Crawl
When: March 12, 2016 at 12 p.m.
Where: The Pub Crawl Party Lot located at 219 E 7th Street
Bottoms up! Join the World’s Largest Pub Crawl for some St. Paddy’s Day fun and experience the Charlotte bar scene with your friends. This event is also perfect if you want to go solo and make new friends because the pub crawlers usually come from all over the country to attend. If you didn’t sign up in time, you can still check in on March 12 and hope they have a t-shirt in your size. You will have the entire day to drink and be merry in Uptown Charlotte, so remember to pace yourself.
Erin go bragh (Ireland forever)!
The month of March (Irish-American Heritage Month) is a time when we celebrate not only Saint Patrick, but all of the contributions that Irish immigrants and their descendants in America. There is no better place to celebrate Irish-American Heritage Month and St. Patrick’s Day than in Charlotte. The Queen City is full of friendly faces and a great community, making it a popular place to be any time of the year. After visiting, we promise that you won’t want to leave. Contact YourOffice Ballantyne and get your business-ready workspace or virtual office set up today so you can experience everything Charlotte has to offer!
