Celebrating St. Patrick’s Day in Wilmington NC

You’ve got the green light to make this St. Patrick’s Day in Wilmington the best one yet. Lads and lasses will have a jolly ‘ole time celebrating the famous Wilmington St. Patty’s Day Parade and other exciting activities around town to get you in the Irish mood. It’s your lucky day to revel in Guinness-fueled cheers and a sea of shamrock green covering downtown.

Plan your visit to Wilmington during St. Patrick’s Day to enjoy these activities.

St. Patrick’s Day Parade

Feet pound the pavement on North Front Street to the sounds of bagpipes. Enthusiast onlookers line the sidewalks dressed in Shamrock green. Irish flags drape the sides of colorful floats cruising through downtown. This festive scene highlights none other than Wilmington’s annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Every year, the Wilmington community comes together in all its Irish pride to celebrate. According to parade spokesperson Joe Costy, it’s been called one of the ‘Top 10 St. Patrick’s Day Parades in small cities in America.”

Hang out for a few hours with hundreds of locals and tourists, experiencing the lively atmosphere filled with Celtic music, Irish dancing, and local vendors.

Irish Hooley Festival by Waterline Brewing

Can’t wait until the St. Patty’s Day parade? Get your Irish fix in at the top of the month with the Hooley Under the Bridge event. Hosted by Waterline Brewing, this event turns the area beneath the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge into an Irish extravaganza. The Irish music and dancing preview what you’ll see at the parade. After a couple of rounds of Oatmeal Stouts, you’ll be ready to jig into your best Riverdance step.

Hooley Under the Bridge features popular local bands like the Wilmington Pipes and Drums and the Triple Academy of Irish Dance. There will also be food trucks and other vendors. Support local because this event is a fundraiser to support the parade.

Learn about our March Madness vacation rental deal to participate in all the exciting events happing this month.

Visit Irish Pubs

St. Patrick’s Day is the perfect time to indulge in some spirited fun. Leave the kids at home because Wilmington has plenty of Irish pubs to keep your pint filled aplenty with Guinness and shot glasses overflowing with Jameson.

Sláinte! Pub-hop between local Irish pubs where you’ll encounter ginger bearded bartenders, drunken leprechauns, and shimmering shamrock skirts.

Here are the top-rated Irish Pubs near the Wilmington Riverwalk:

• Slainte Irish Pub (The oldest Irish Pub in town!)
• Paddy’s Hollow Restaurant & Pub
• The Harp

Pay tribute to the Irish-descent Navy Crew at the USS Battleship

You can spot the legendary Battleship North Carolina right from the Wilmington Riverwalk. More than 2,300 crew served on the USS North Carolina during its service. The ship now serves as a memorial for the diverse crew it hosted, which includes several names of Irish descent, such as O’Brien, Gallagher, and McCormick.

Take time out of your St. Patty’s Day to honor these Navy soldiers. Take a guided tour with a docent to hear historic tales from the ship. Go on a self-guided tour across the ship’s nine levels to see how these Irish-descent crew members lived during their service.

Wear Green

Wearing green is a tell-tale sign you’re in the mood to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in Wilmington NC. Whether you’re going full Celtic dressed in green from head to toe or simply a green hoodie to sport as you walk around downtown, everything counts as being in the holiday’s “dress code.”

If you forgot to pack your green attire for the St. Patty’s Day celebrations, you can find some festive threads at local shopping boutiques. The Cotton Exchange is a one-stop-shop to find a variety of retail shops to get lucky with finding that perfect green outfit:

• Coastal Bliss
• Elizabeth’s Tres Chic
• Fantabulous Flamingo

Find out even more shops, restaurants, and services at the Cotton Exchange.

Cook Irish Desserts in Your Vacation Rental

Satisfy your holiday sweet tooth with Irish-inspired treats you can cook at home. Fully equipped kitchens are one of the top amenities offered inside Sea Scape Properties vacation rentals. Now, all you need are the ingredients and a playlist of Celtic jingles, and you’re all set to whip up a batch of St. Patrick’s Day goodies.

Guests can use our Southern Magnolia Concierge Service to deliver grouches directly to your Wilmington vacation rental. Here are some fun Irish treats to prepare:

• Chocolate Whoopie Pies
• Soda Bread
• Shortbread Squares
• Irish Cream
• Baileys Truffles

Pair your Irish treats with these fun games for an amazing night in on St. Patty’s Day.

Look for Four Leaf Clovers

Will the luck of the Irish be on your side this St. Patrick’s Day? While we can’t promise a big pot o’ gold at the end of a rainbow, you might have some success finding wild clovers in one of the local parks.

The green spaces dotting Wilmington provide ample room for outdoor play. The kids can play on playscapes. Benches, walking trails, and even sports courts are open to the public. If it’s warm, you can even plan a picnic.

Explore these parks to find wild clovers:

• Airlie Gardens
• Long Leaf Park
• Halliburton Memorial Park
• Ogden Park

St. Patty’s Day-themed Arts and Crafts

Are you visiting Wilmington with kids? Avoid the crowded streets and plan your own holiday fun right at your vacation rental. St. Patty’s Day-themed arts and crafts are always fun to create for all ages. Use your imagination to cut out your very own leprechaun hat and ginger beard. Get sticky with homemade green slime. Become a master with the glue stick to complete a rainbow-colored possible wreath.

Here are some local art shops to help bring your holiday craft ideas to life.

• Craft Cabana
• Pinspiration Wilmington
• AR Workshop

Learn more about our kid-friendly vacation rentals.