Top Family-Friendly St. Patrick's Day Events In Philadelphia
Great Narberth Leprechaun Hunt
Forrest Ave. and Haverford Ave.
Narberth, PA 19072
www.narberthonline.com
Date: Saturday, March 12, 2016 at 1:00 p.m.
Narberth is nestled in between Lancaster and Montgomery Avenue on the Main Line. Its quaint, family-friendly downtown area is just a few train stops away from Center City Philadelphia. The Narberth Business Association sponsors several events throughout the year with the Great Narberth Leprechaun Hunt being one of the most popular. Kids search the town, visiting local stores, looking for hidden leprechauns. Leprechauns give each child a chocolate coin to add to their pot, and after collecting 10 coins, children return to the booth to receive a prize (a golden U.S. dollar coin). The event starts at 1:00 p.m. and ends at 4:00 p.m. (or when prizes run out.)
Katie O'Donnell's
4501 Woodhaven Road
Philadelphia, PA 19154
(215) 637-5151
www.katieodonnells.com
Dates: Thursday, March 17 – Saturday, March 19, 2016
Katie O'Donell's is located just outside Philadelphia Mills mall (formerly Franklin Mills) in Northeast Philly. While a lot of bars in the area aren't exactly kid-friendly, this Irish pub/sports bar/restaurant openly welcomes families with kids of all ages. St. Patrick's Day will be celebrated Thursday through Saturday with plenty of live entertainment lined up including face painting, bag pipers, Irish dancers, a string band and local musicians. Bring the family out for music, fun and Irish food specials like ham and corn beef and cabbage.
The Leprechaun Run
MLK Drive meets West River Drive and the Schuylkill Trail Connector by the Art Museum
Philadelphia, PA 19130
www.sopaphilly.org
Date: Saturday, March 12, 2016 at 9:00 a.m. (check-in at 8 a.m.)
Before indulging in green beer and other St. Patrick's Day treats, start your day out with a healthy run and make a difference, too. A Philadelphia tradition dating back to 1984, The Leprechaun Run benefits Special Olympics athletes in Pennsylvania. Participants have the option of racing at 9:00 a.m. ($35) or joining in the 2-mile fun run/walk shortly after ($25). Registration is available online now and in person at 8:00 a.m. the day of the event. Children under 8 years of age can participate for free, but please note that pets, strollers, bikes and wagons are not allowed. The 2015 Leprechaun Run raised over $30,000 for Special Olympics Philadelphia, and this year hopes to be even better.
Philadelphia St. Patrick's Day Parade
Benjamin Franklin Parkway
Philadelphia, PA 19103
www.philadelphiastpatsparade.com
Date: Sunday, March 13 from 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
This year marks the 245th Philadelphia St. Patrick's Day Parade. And with over 200 groups and approximately 20,000 participants, it's the largest parade held in Philadelphia.
Green Parrot Restaurant Pub & Patio
240 N. Sycamore St.
Newtown, PA 18940
(215) 504-7277
www.greenparrotrestaurant.com
Dates: Wednesday, March 16 – Sunday, March 20, 2016
The Annual Newtown Irish Festival is back at the Green Parrot and better than ever this year. Each day offers something different with the festivities starting on Wednesday, March 16 with an event to benefit the Throw Away Dogs Project, which rehabilitates rescue dogs to train them to be police K9 working dogs. Tickets cost $50 per person. The celebrating continues Thursday through Sunday with entertainment inside the restaurant and outside in the tent – Irish dancers, face painters, a balloonist and local bands such as Ray Coleman, Blackthorn, The Hooligans, Clancy's Pistol and Galway Guild. A $10 cover charge applies to certain times/events. Plus, the first annual Green Parrot Shamrock Shuffle 5K will be held on Saturday, March 19. Participants will run through historic Newtown before returning to the Green Parrot to join in the party.
Related: Ask A Philadelphia Chef: Top Corned Beef And Cabbage Recipes
Michelle Hein is the social media editor for a women's fashion company in Bucks County by day and a self-proclaimed food and drink fanatic by night and weekend. She enjoys attending wine classes, trying new recipes in the kitchen and going to old favorites and new restaurants alike in the Bucks County and Philadelphia area. If the writing gig doesn't pan out, she constantly dreams of owning her own bakery…perhaps connected to the restaurant/bar that her lawyer husband would love to open.
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