Gather your greenery and practice splitting your Gs. The second annual Shamrock the Block is back this St. Patrick’s Day, turning Mary Margaret’s Irish Pub and the entire block of 3rd Street into a massive street party bursting at the seams with Celtic song, dance, food and drink.
The free celebration takes place on St. Patrick’s Day proper, Tuesday, March 17, starting from the top o’ the mornin’ at 9 am and continuing well into the next early morning. Mary Margaret’s will be the hub of the celebrations at 29 3rd Street North, and the entire block – from Black Cattle Burger to Sushi, Inc. – will be closed to traffic for the duration of the party. The celebration will make downtown St. Pete feel more like the Dublin city center, as the block is packed full of all things Irish.
Shamrock The Block is completely free to attend, though all who register for free in advance are entered to win a free Margaritaville cruise out of Tampa. Festivities feature live Irish music from Cage O’Hanlon, Chad McDonald and Sean Patrick Walsh. Guests can enjoy a full Irish breakfast in the morning, whiskey tastings throughout the day, and plenty of authentic Irish fare. There will also be stage performances by bagpipers and Irish dancers throughout the day.
In addition to the always excellent drinks at Mary Margaret’s and satellite bars throughout the festivities, the JJ Taylor Beer Truck will be in the middle of the fun, serving up Guinness, Smithwick’s, Harp and other favorites. There will also be an outdoor grille set up offering traditional Irish food like corned beef and cabbage, Shepherd’s Pie, bangers and mash, Reuben dogs and more.
For those looking to start the day off right, we highly recommend grabbing Kegs N Eggs breakfast tickets in advance, this one tends to sell out. Available from 9 am – noon, the $25 ticket includes access to a traditional Irish breakfast buffet featuring eggs, bangers, rashers, potatoes, tomatoes, baked beans, mushrooms, black pudding, and rye toast, plus a free beer of your choice to kick off the celebration!
For those keeping track, the block party is also the official 7th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Party at Mary Margaret’s, which is one of the best parties of the year every March. The locally-owned pub, which opened in March of 2020, has become a star in downtown, and it’s one of our favorite spots for amazing comfort food, proper pints, and all the soccer you could ever want.
Of note, the organizers for Shamrock The Block are the same team behind the annual Paddy Fest in Williams Park, one of the biggest St. Patrick’s Day festivals in the entire region. Thousands are once again expected to descend on downtown St. Pete for this year’s rendition, which features an incredible entertainment lineup. Paddy Fest 2025 takes place this Friday-Sunday. Learn more about Paddy Fest here.