15 February 2024

A Locals' Guide to St. Patrick's Day

Celebrating St. Patrick’s Day in Norfolk this year? Well, you’re in luck. (Get it?) We have some really fun St. Patrick’s Day events in Norfolk complete with green drinks and plenty of reasons to dress in an Irish-inspired fashion. Plus, If you’re in the mood for some authentic Irish eats and drinks, we’ve got you covered there too. So, throw on some shamrocks, give in to a green beer, and join in the fun.

Irish Inspired Eats and Drinks

Food

Grace O’Malley’s Irish Pub

Norfolk’s only Irish pub, Grace O’Malley’s is smack dab in the heart of Downtown and is the most authentic Irish experience around. Throughout the pub you’ll find items shipped directly from Ireland: the mahogany woodwork, the light fixtures and even the tile. Grace O’Malley’s owners were determined to give customers a true Irish experience and have exceeded expectations with their authentic menu and live Irish performers of Gaelic song and dance. Indulge in traditional dishes like bangers and mash, cottage pie, shepherd’s pie made with homemade Guinness brown gravy or corned beef Blarney sub created with their signature Paddy Old Irish Whiskey sauce. Pair your meal with an Irish beer (we recommend Smithwick’s – pronounced “Smiddick’s”) to get the full experience.

St. Patrick’s Events in Norfolk

Shamrockin’ in Ghent

March 8, 2024

The much-anticipated annual St. Patrick’s Day block party returns to Ghent and features tons of festivities the week before Saint Patrick’s Day! Thousands of people come out to celebrate with live music from The Fighting Jamesons. The Tidewater Pipes and Drums kick off the event on the street, and there are beer trucks, Irish whiskey and local food vendors to round out the fun. Best of all, it’s a free event to get you in the mood for St. Patrick’s Day.

Shamrock Shenanigans

March 9, 2024

Celebrate with a dinner and dance from 6:30 to 11 p.m. at the Columbian Club of Ocean View, Inc. $35 tickets include food and beer.


@carolynrice, Instagram

57th Annual Saint Patrick’s Day Parade 

March 16, 2024

Undeniably Norfolk’s largest and liveliest St. Patrick’s event, this Ocean View parade draws thousands to come out in a sea of green and flood the street with Irish cheer. Look for fun-filled marching bands, clowns, floats, cars and people cascading down the streets throughout the event. After the parade, head to the Columbian Club of Ocean View for live music, food and fun. From 10 a.m. to noon.

@covabrewco, Instagram

Annual St. Patrick’s Day: Party After OV Parade

March 16, 2024

Look for COVA Brewing Company’s float during the parade, and then head over to the brewery to keep the party going until 9 p.m.! They’ll have food, live music and all the green beer you can drink!

@boldmariner, Instagram

Annual St. Paddy’s Day at Bold Mariner

March 16, 2024

Back for its annual St. Patrick’s Day event, Bold Mariner is giving you a day of fun with fantastic beers, music and more!

After Parade Party at CCOV

March 16, 2024

From noon to 4 p.m. join the fun inside the Columbian Club of Ocean View for live music, food and vendors. Located at 211 W. Government Ave.

Norfolk Shamrock Stroll/Bar Crawl

March 16-17, 2024

Nothing beats a St. Patrick’s Day bar crawl filled with green beer, silly hats and bad Irish accents. Well, OK. One thing beats it and that’s an entire weekend of bar crawling. Start at Hell’s Kitchen for check-in and wristband between 1 and 4 p.m., then make your way through the top bars in Norfolk on Saturday and Sunday.

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