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 conveniently located 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 to get the full experience.
Beer and Cocktails
Commune
It’s Matcha Madness over at Commune! Kicking off spring and all things green, this sweet, tangy and velvety cocktail features matcha from Wild Woods Farm in nearby Virginia Beach, along with burnt oney and citrus that’s guaranteed to leave your tastebuds feeling electrified.
O’Connor Brewing Co.
O’Connor Brewing Co. was the first microbrewery to open their doors in our city. Each Saint Patrick’s Day weekend, O’Connor’s celebrates the Irish holiday with great beer and festivities, while also acknowledging the anniversary of brewing their very first batch in 2010. While they have many year-round brews, their most notable (for holiday sake) is Odis, a robust dry Irish-style nitro stout that has a rich roasted malt aroma and a balancing smooth, velvety palate with hints of dark chocolate.
Specialty Coffees
Cafe mudita
Quite frankly, if you could choose between a regular coffee and a coffee with Lucky Charms in it, why wouldn’t you choose the latter? Head to Cafe Mudita anytime in March for a taste of their Lucky Charms latte.
COVA Brewing Co.
Consider it your lucky day because there’s not just one but two new coffee drinks available at COVA Brewing Co. for the month of March. Choose between their Lucky Latte, which is magically delicious with sweet flavors of marshmallow and cereal bites, or their Gold Coin, a golden milk latte made with turmeric, coconut milk and cinnamon.
St. Patrick’s Events in Norfolk
Shamrockin’ in Ghent
March 10, 2023
The much-anticipated annual St. Patrick’s Day block party comes back to Ghent and features tons of festivities! 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.
Shamrock Sea Glass Shenanigans
March 11, 2023 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.
Join Nauticus for a Shamrockin’ good time during their new, one-hour Shamrock Sea Glass Shenanigans workshop! During the interactive workshop, you and your family will enjoy traditional Irish music as you decorate a clay pot with green sea glass and plant clover inside using crushed oyster shells and organic soil mix. Participants will also discover how sea glass is made and how you can find it.
Shamrocks & Shenanigans: S!CK!CK
March 17, 2023
Miller Lite presents The Mind Games Tour at Waterside. General admission includes standing room only entry, and VIP admission includes one hour early admission and access to the Harbor Club with exclusive second level viewing and private bar.
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56th Annual Saint Patrick’s Day Parade
March 18, 2023
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. This is an especially jubilant time for the Saint Patrick’s Day Parade as it’s been canceled in 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic and again in 2022 due to weather.
3rd Annual St. Patrick’s Day: Party After OV Parade
March 18, 2023
Look for COVA’s float during the parade, and then head over to the brewery to keep the party going! They’ll have food trucks, live music and all the green beer. you can drink!
4th Annual St. Paddy’s Day at Bold Mariner
March 18, 2023
Back for its fourth annual St. Patricks Day event, Bold Mariner is giving you a day of fun with fantastic beers, music and more!