Each year the feast of St. Patrick, or St. Patrick’s Day, is celebrated on March 17. Although the day celebrates Irish culture and history, the first St. Patrick’s Day celebration did not occur in Ireland, but rather in Boston in 1737. The color green is was not always associated with St. Patrick’s Day, originally blue was the color of the holiday, but was replaced with green in the 19th century.
Today, St. Patrick’s Day has become synonymous with the color green, images of shamrocks, leprechauns, corned beef and hash, whiskey and of course – beer. If a visit to the Emerald Island isn’t in your travel plans this weekend, there are many great places and events to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in Costa Mesa.
Durty Nelly’s Irish Pub & Restaurant on Red Hill Avenue in Costa Mesa has gained a reputation as one of the best bars in Orange County for karaoke and quiz night. For its annual St. Patrick’s Day Celebration, Durty Nelly’s will have an outdoor stage with live music from 4:30-7:30 pm, karaoke with Kevin Karaoke starting at 7:30 pm and DJs in the tent outside from 8 pm until late. Aside from the Irish food and live music Durty Nelly’s promises beer, whiskey, more alcohol and even more whiskey.
The Harp Inn in Costa Mesa is an authentic Irish pub where Irish accents, televised rugby matches and pints of Guinness are common. There is also live entertainment most nights of the week. The doors of The Harp Inn open early for St. Paddy’s. The festivities begin at 9 am and continue throughout the night with live music from Trooper Thorn from noon- 6 pm and The Creepers from 7 pm – close. The Harp Inn is sure to be a popular destination, but with a little luck of the Irish, you’ll be able to squeeze your way up to the bar for a drink.
The jovial neighborhood bar, The Wild Goose Tavern, is the pot of gold at the end of your St. Patrick’s Day rainbow with all day food and drink specials and live entertainment. Wild Goose opens at 8 am with a specialty menu that features corned beef and hash dishes, Irish coffee, featured Irish whiskeys and green beer. The live bagpipers will make you feel like you’re on the banks of the river Liffey. Come early or stay late because the festivities will be going all night.
If an all day drinking fest isn’t your style, you can go green for St. Paddy’s at the OC Marketplace at the OC Fair & Event Center. The 7th annual St. Patrick’s Day Celebration and Green Festival has Irish dancers, comedy and magic by Abbit the Average Leprechaun, face painting and much more. The will also be “green” activities that promote environmentally safe practices presented by the Earth Resource Foundation. Gourmet food trucks will be serving food. If all of the events leave you parched, there is also green beer and green lemonade.
