Going For The Green St. Patrick’s Festivities Parade And Parties Everywhere Mark Weekend Irish Celebration

Now is the time of year when the companies that make green dye must find themselves running shockingly short on their stock.

After all, it seems just about every eating and drinking establishment with even a lick of the Irish spirit is up to its elbows making green beer, green eggs, green ham … green anything.

Certainly, there’ll be plenty of chances in the coming days to devour these foliage-colored goodies at bars and restaurants throughout the Inland Northwest.

Although St. Patrick’s Day falls on a Tuesday, the Celtic festivities begin this weekend. The annual St. Patrick’s Day parade starts at noon Saturday in downtown Spokane. And you can bet the partying at area bars and restaurants will begin well before that and continue into the week.

If you’re looking to party down Leprechaun-style, just a warning: The establishments along the parade route will be packed. Waiting in line is worth it if you’re into the holiday melee. But if you want to avoid the crowds, head out to some of the other fine establishments in our area.

Below is a sampling of the places dishing up the green stuff.

Fast Eddie’s All Purpose Pub opens their doors at 8 a.m. Saturday for a free breakfast of green eggs and ham. They’ll serve green beer throughout the day as Irish tunes play from the jukebox. After the parade, David’s Pizza will be on hand serving traditional Irish pizzas.

After the parade Saturday jig on over to Outback Jack’s where the bartenders will be serving green beer and the DJ will be spinning dance tunes starting at 3 p.m. The bar will run specials on MacTarnahan’s beer tonight through Tuesday. End the green holiday with a rock show Tuesday night. Rorschach Test, Worm Drive and Five Foot Thick will perform. Show starts at 9 p.m.

Bambino’s swings open their doors at 8 a.m. Saturday to start its St. Pat’s Day party early. Their breakfast special will be corned beef and hash. There will be music, prizes and drink specials throughout the day.

C.I. Shenanigan’s will hold its annual St. Patrick’s Day tent party in the parking lot Saturday from noon to 10 p.m. The party will feature hand-crafted ales, DJ music and dancing as well as special food items and prize give-aways. The Angus Scott Pipe Band will make appearances both Saturday and Tuesday as will the Spokane Valley Highland Dancers.

Dig into some corned beef and cabbage and Irish stew at O’Doherty’s. That eatery opens at 10:30 a.m. both Saturday and Tuesday. Chuck Borris will perform Celtic folk music from noon to 4 p.m. each day and the bagpipers are expected to make their rounds through the establishment. A DJ will lay down the tunes Saturday night. The Celtic band Driving Home will perform Tuesday 7 to 10 p.m. Cover charge both nights is $2. The first thousand bucks raised by O’Doherty’s goes to the Center Point charity for disabled adults.

At the Fort Spokane Brewery Saturday evening you can toss back a few green beers and listen to the band Delbert. The music starts at 9 p.m. The cover charge is $3. There will also be $2.50 shots of Jaeger Meister and $3 Irish coffees available.

The Ram will open at 11 a.m. Saturday before the parade and will be serving breakfast items such as potatoes O’Brien with sausage and eggs. (They say the eggs won’t be green.) Drink specials on Irish whiskey and Irish coffee will be offered both Saturday and Tuesday. And yes, there will be green beer.

Start celebrating St. Patrick’s Day right now. Finnerty’s is featuring corned beef and cabbage and green beer today until Tuesday.

In Idaho

At Capone’s Pub & Grill in Coeur d’Alene add a dash of Jamaica to your Irish celebration. On Saturday evening the Planetary Refugees will dish out the reggae tunes starting at 9 p.m. Cover charge will be $3. On Tuesday, the pub will help raise money for the MDA. It’ll sell shamrocks and donate part of the cover charge and receipts for the night to the charity. O’Rare Mountain Aire performs with Bones on the spoons starting at 7 p.m. Cover charge is $2. The bar will be serving real Irish beer — not the green stuff — and there will be plenty of prizes given away.

City Slickers in Coeur d’Alene will celebrate the holiday Tuesday with $1 pints of green beer from 4 to 8 p.m. and 50-cent well drinks for women from 4 to 7 p.m. Live music will be provided in the evening by Wayne Kissire for no cover charge.

Casey’s Restaurant & Brewery in Post Falls will offer a myriad of St. Patrick’s Day food specials both Monday and Tuesday. Corned brisket of beef, Irish oyster soup and Scotch eggs with dijon sauce are among the tasty treats.

The Aces Wild club in Coeur d’Alene will celebrate the holiday Saturday, Monday and Tuesday with green beer, party favors and prizes. , DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Photo Map of parade route