17 things to do before, during, and after the St. Patrick's Day Parade

By Metro Times editorial staff on Fri, Mar 11, 2016 at 12:03 am

Festivities kick of this weekend and going to the St. Patrick's Day Parade in Corktown is just a given. We've put together a list of things going on nearby, plus a few ways you can keep your celebrations going all the way until St. Patrick's Day itself. Get ready to shamrock your socks off (or something).

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Watch people run at the Corktown 5k
Go watch people run in St. Patrick's Day garb. Nothing like cheering on people who are being physically active on a day typically reserved for heavy drinking. The 34th annual race starts at 10 a.m., and takes place on Michigan Ave. to Vernor Hwy. corktownrace.com. (Photo courtesy of Corktown Race)

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Jam out at Corktown Tavern
Re-opening just in time to celebrate all things Irish. The Muggs, The Beggars, The Reefermen and The Howling Diablos are scheduled to perform on Sunday beginning at 12pm sharp! 1716 Michigan Ave., Detroit; 313-964-5103; corktowntavern.com (Photo via Yelp, Corktown Tavern)

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Be authentically Irish at the Gaelic League Irish American Club of Detroit
Gaelic League doors open at 10am on Sunday and will have entertainment on two stages. $10 / free admission with current membership. 2068 Michigan Ave., Detroit; 313-964-8700; gaelicleagueofdetroit.org (Photo courtesy Gaelic League of Detroit)

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Start drinking at 7.a.m. at McShane's Irish Pub
This Corktown standard will open at the bright and early hour of 7 a.m. come parade day. They'll have a tent, live music, and traditional Irish fare (think: corned beef and cabbage, Reubens, and shepherd's pie) and no cover. Though they won't have any outrageous drink specials, they promise to not up their drink prices just because it's their busiest day of the year. 1460 Michigan Ave., Detroit; 313-961-1960; mcshanespub.com (Photo via Yelp, McShane's Pub)

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Attend two parties for one holiday at Nemo’s
St. Patrick's Day just might be the biggest day of the year for this two-story Corktown bar and they'll be throwing not one, but two parties to make the Irish-ish fun last a little bit longer. In accordance with the parade on Sunday, March 13, they'll have a huge tent party with live music from the Balduck Mountain Ramblers, plenty of drinking, and a limited menu of corned beef sandwiches and burgers. An identical party will take place on St. Patrick's Day proper. 1384 Michigan Ave., Detroit; 313-965-3180; nemosdetroit.com. (Photo via Yelp, Nemo's)

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Hang out with the Guinness Girls at Gus O'Connor's Public House
Get started with the celebrating early, with a free, hearty Irish breakfast buffet between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m. on St. Patrick's Day. Plus, there are Guinness Girls on hand, a 5,000-square-foot party tent featuring five bars, six bands, and a live broadcast of the Blaine Fowler Morning Show. Plus, limited options from the regular menu will be available, and it has an Irish American flare (bangers, Irish nachos, and Scotch eggs, to name a few). 324 S. Main St., Rochester, 248-608-2537, oconnorsrochester.com

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Ride around in style on the St. Patty's Parade Party Bus
Roundtrip motor coach party buses from Blackfinn (Royal Oak) and Tilted Kilt (Novi) to Corktown for as much “luck o’ the Irish” as you can handle in one day (Sunday 3/13). Buses are loaded with complimentary Labatt Blue Light, Tito's Handmade Vodka cocktails and non-alcoholic beverages. Feel free to BYOB! $50. stpattyspartybus.thesocialconnectionevents.com, 248-543-1000.

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Come alive with the sound of music at PJ's Lager House
Live music is the name of the game at PJ's Lager House this parade day. Doors open at 9 a.m. and local Irish band Stone Clover will take the stage at 11 a.m. playing traditional Irish tunes as well as high energy originals. Billy Grogan's Goat, a Detroit-Irish rock band, will play from 3 to 6 p.m. The best part? There's no cover all day. 1254 Michigan Ave., Detroit; 313-961-4668; pjslagerhouse.com

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b>Hear the 'Sounds of Ireland' played by the Redford Civic Symphony Orchestra
Keep it classy on Sunday and head to this free concert. 3p.m. at Covenant Community Church, 25800 Student, Redford. www.redfordsymphony.org. (Photo via Shutterstock)

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Get a shamrock shake at McDonald's
Let's not kid ourselves, they're magically delicious. (Photo via Flickr user Todd Van Hoosear)

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Get a shitty shamrock tattoo that you’ll regret forever....or maybe not.

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Help Bobcat Bonnie’s celebrate its first St. Patrick’s Parade Day
The restaurant will open at 8:00am (no brunch this week though, sorry!) and will be serving up burgers, Irish stew, corned beef sandwiches, and hot dogs. They'll also have a huge tent out back, also opening at 8:00am. There's no cover for the restaurant, and a $5 cover for the tent (all proceeds go to the Detroit Firemen's Fund). 1800 Michigan Ave., Detroit; 313-962-1383; bobcatbonnies.com.

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Party on St. Practice Day at Conor O'Neill's Traditional Irish Pub
Not only is their food some of the arguably best Irish cuisine in the region, but they've got a great party planned for Saturday, 3/12. Music kicks off at 8:00 p.m. (Plus more festivities on St. Patrick's Day, music and merriment begins at 7:00p.m.) 318 S. Main St., Ann Arbor; 734-665-2968, conoroneills.com/annarbor. (Photo via Yelp, Conor O'neills)

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Hang out with bagpipers at Sullivan's Public House
St. Patrick's Day starts off at 7a.m. with an Irish Breakfast. Irish Music and Bagpipers all day. Celtic Dancers from 1pm to 2pm, Fiddle & Strum from 2pm - 5pm, Celtic Cross from 6pm - 9pm and Gerard Smith from 10pm - 1am. Chef has created an amazing menu that features such dishes as Corned Beef & Cabbage, Dublin Coddle, Fish 'n' chips and much more! A beer tent will also be a part of the festivities! 23 N. Washington St., Oxford, 248-572-7344, sullivanspublichouse.com. (Photo via Yelp, Sullivans Public House)

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Go nab something delicious from Ackryod's Scottish Bakery
Ackroyd's at first glance may not seem Irish at all. Don't be fooled because every year the bakery (opened in 1949) gives us some pretty interesting Irish specialties, including a corned beef and cabbage pasty, as well as Irish stew pies made with potatoes, ground beef, peas, carrots, pickled onion, and brown gravy. 25566 Five Mile Rd., Redford, 313-532-1181, ackroydsbakery.com

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Have a magically delicious Irish meal at O'Mara's Irish Pub
This Irish hidden gem has always counted shepherd's pie and Irish stew among their main staples. A traditional breakfast that includes Irish Farmers omelets and Irish oatmeal starts at 8 a.m. on St. Patrick's Day. After noon, stay tuned for corned beef and cabbage, shepherd's pie, Irish stew, fish n' chips, and even Stacey McClure's Irish pizza, with shredded corned beef, Swiss cheese, kraut, caramelized onion, honey mustard, and Thousand Island dressing. 2555 W. 12 Mile Road, Berkley; 248-399-6750, omaras.net.

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Drink more than just green beer at Duggan's Irish Pub.
The day's Irish menu will feature corned beef and cabbage, shepherd's pie, a corned beef Rueben, and mugs of green beer to wash it all down with. Variety is key, and Duggan's offers 26 beers on tap and 37 in bottles. 31501 Woodward Ave., Royal Oak; 248-549-3659, dugganspub.com. (Photo via Yelp, Duggan's Irish Pub)

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