The official St. Patrick’s Day may be this Monday, March 17th, but in Ocean City the real St. Patty’s Day throw down is Saturday, March 15th. Each year, the Ocean City St. Patrick’s Day Parade marks the official kick-off point for spring in the resort town. Despite the fact the weather is typically abysmal locals rejoice in the annual parade nonetheless, coming out of their respective hibernation holes to revel in the glory of the town once again. Beyond the parade, there are several local businesses gearing up for the festivities and we’ve got you keyed in on a few of our favorites:
33rd Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade
The annual Ocean City St. Patrick’s Day Parade is one of our favorite events at ShoreBread. In fact, we love it so much that we will be marching in the parade with the Worcester County Humane Society, giving our canine friends some time to shine in the spotlight. The parade begins at noon, heading south from 58th Street to the 45th Street Village where the reviewing and judges stand will be located. The 45th Street Village is also the central hub for festivities, with a host of excitement to behold, including live Irish entertainment, dancers, face painting, Irish apparel, food and drink. The parade, which is sponsored by the Delmarva Irish-American Club, is so well-loved that it has grown to be the second largest St. Patrick’s Day Parade in the State of Maryland!
Belly Busters
Located at 45th Street, directly across the street from the St. Patrick’s Day festival, Belly Busters is the unofficial locals gathering point for the parade. What they lack in green beer they more than make up for in beer selections and grub. Fish tacos, overstuffed subs, wraps, salads, and all the fried food goodness you crave for a St. Patty’s Day of fun. It’s the opening weekend for Belly Busters so expect a hefty crowd to be congregating here. But hey, it’s St. Patrick’s Day, the more the merrier.
Seacrets has ingeniously dubbed Saturday’s festivities as the “Local’s New Year,” paying homage to the locals’ excitement over the slow demise of the slower winter months. The party starts at 11am on Saturday, with bagpipes at 4pm and a Locals New Year Balloon Drop at 6pm. Specials, live entertainment, DJ’s and more will be included in the celebration. And with Seacrets conveniently located along the parade route, it’s the logical stop after the parade comes to an end.
For those of you looking to get a head start on the fun, Pickles Pub has you covered. The pre-parade fun starts at 10am, with Kegs N’ Eggs, including delicious breakfast specials and music by DJ Jeremy from 10am until 3pm.
Buxy’s is joining in on the fun with a day chocked full of St. Patrick’s Celebrations from 10am until 2am. Located midway between the parade and Shenanigans, you can be sure we’ll be stopping in Buxy’s for some Irish fries, Reuben sandwiches and corned beef and cabbage. DJ Bk will be providing post-parade entertainment. Don’t forget to wear your green!
And now for the heavy hitter…Shenanigans. The Irish Pub & Grille is the obvious place to be during a day of Irish fun in Ocean City. The boardwalk pub has been serving locals and tourists for 25 years, which means 25 years of St. Patty’s Day celebrations. This year is no exception, with festivities scheduled for the entire weekend. Door prizes, 50/50 raffle, drink specials, giveaways, live music and more are on tap, including lots and lots of Guinness.
