At the 47th St. Patrick’s Day parade in Salt Lake City, happening March 15, there will be even more of a reason to dress like a leprechaun.
The theme of this year’s parade and party is “the spirit of Kells,” referring to the famous medieval illuminated manuscript, Irish folk tales, legends and mythology, as well as Irish storytelling, said Sean Clark, president of the Hibernian Society of Utah, which puts on the annual free event.
Clark said the theme was inspired by the creativity of the parade’s many entries, especially the depictions of leprechauns and fairies. “I think it’s going to be a popular theme with crowds,” he added.
The parade will begin at 11 a.m. on Saturday, at 600 West and 200 South. The route will continue east toward Rio Grande Street, then take a left on Rio Grande and head north through The Gateway mall. Afterward, there will be the annual siamsa (an Irish word, pronounced “shee-am-sah,” and roughly meaning “folk entertainment”), in the Olympic Plaza and along Rio Grande Street.
The grand marshal of the parade will be Irish Minister of State Alan Dillon, a politician in the center-right Fine Gael party who retired from inter-county soccer in 2017, according to a news release. He led his team to six All-Ireland finals, the release said.
There will be five bars set up throughout the siamsa area: at 100 South, at 79 South, and on the second level near the bridge, as well as in the Olympic Plaza (the Mickey Gallivan Memorial Bar) and behind the main stage at 12 North, which is where the John Welsh Memorial Bar will be located. (John Welsh was one of the founders of the Hibernian Society of Utah, and the bar is run by his family.)
(Bethany Baker | The Salt Lake Tribune) People line the streets during the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in downtown Salt Lake City on Saturday, March 16, 2024.
The Store, at the corner of Rio Grande St. and 100 South, will be catering traditional and Irish-inspired food such as corned beef & cabbage, Irish stew and soda bread, and serving it in an indoor space at the base of the video tower. Other indoor spaces will be set up along the parade route through The Gateway if the weather isn’t sunny, as it has been the last few years.
There will also be vendors selling Irish-inspired spins on foods from various cultures, including shamrock-shaped empanadas, green cotton candy, and Mexican food with green tortillas.
Several Irish libations, including Guinness, whiskey and Irish coffee will be available to purchase.
There will be live music on the main stage in the Olympic Plaza, and Irish dance in an indoor area at 79 S. Rio Grande St.
After the last siamsa bar closes at 7 p.m., the official afterparty will be held at Flanker Kitchen + Sporting Club until it closes at 1 a.m.
The St. Patrick’s Day parade and siamsa is “a celebration not just of Irish culture but of the Irish spirit, which is a really welcoming atmosphere for our whole community and anybody who wants to be involved, Irish and non-Irish,” Clark said. “Our whole mentality is everybody’s Irish on St Patrick’s Day.”
For a full parade and siamsa schedule, visit IrishInUtah.com.
Where else to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day
This year, with Salt Lake City’s St. Patrick’s Day parade happening Saturday, March 15, and the actual holiday falling on Monday, March 17, Utahns can make their St. Patrick’s Day celebrations a three-day weekend. Here is what some of the state’s restaurants and bars are offering:
Après Pendry • 2417 W. High Mountain Road, Park City, 435-800-1992; Pendry.com • Après Pendry is celebrating St. Patrick’s Day on Monday, March 17, with Irish-inspired drink specials and more from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Bewilder Brewing • 445 S. 400 West, Salt Lake City, 385-528-3840; bewilderbrewing.com • This downtown brewery will have several Irish-themed beers on tap during St. Patrick’s Day weekend, including an Irish stout, the fan-favorite Irish lager, a small-batch Irish red and Leprechaun Tears (green glitter beer). There will also be classic Irish food and bagpipers.
Copper Canyon Grillhouse & Tavern • 215 W. South Temple, inside the Radisson Hotel, 385-354-5457; OpenTable • For St. Patrick’s Day weekend, March 15-17, Copper Canyon will feature a special Irish-themed menu with dishes like corned beef hash, lamb stew, Irish soda bread with whipped butter, and corned beef & cabbage. Get a Guinness ($9) or Irish mule ($14) to go alongside.
Deer Valley Resort • 2250 Deer Valley Drive South, Park City, 435-649-1000; DeerValley.com • Edgar’s restaurant at Deer Valley Resort is celebrating St. Patrick’s Day with green beer and specialty cocktails, plus Irish turkey chili nachos.
Flanker Kitchen + Sporting Club • 6 N. Rio Grande St., Salt Lake City, 801-683-7070; flankerslc.com • Flanker is celebrating St. Patrick’s Day with drink specials — including a $7 Guinness draft, a $9 Jameson shot, and $6 green beer. To eat, there will be Irish nachos for $26, a corned beef dip sandwich for $24, and a grasshopper sundae for $14. On Saturday, March 15, live music will be provided by Shanahy, who will be performing at noon to 2 p.m., and 7:30 to 9 p.m.
Gracie’s • 326 S. West Temple, Salt Lake City, 801-819-7565; GraciesSLC.com • On Saturday, March 15, Gracie’s gastropub will be erecting giant tents across most of its parking lot and holding a big St. Patrick’s Day celebration inside with beer trucks, DJs, Irish food, themed cocktails and plenty of Guinness.
Kiitos Brewing • 608 W. 700 South, Salt Lake City, 801-215-9165; KiitosBrewing.com • On St. Patrick’s Day proper, on Monday, Kiitos Brewing will be holding a potluck complete with green beer.
Lucky 13 • 135 W. 1300 South, Salt Lake City, 801-487-4418; Lucky13SLC.com • Lucky 13 is celebrating St. Patrick’s Day with six days of the Lucky Irishman Burger from Wednesday through Monday, March 12-17.
Montage Deer Valley • 9100 Marsac Ave., Park City, 435-604-1300; Montage.com • March 15-17, pair a beer with a shot to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day at select restaurants by choosing between Guinness and Jameson or Killian’s Irish Red Ale and Redbreast Irish Whiskey.
Mountain West Cider • 425 N. 400 West, Salt Lake City, 801-935-4147; MountainWestCider.com • Mountain West Cider is celebrating St. Patrick’s Day on Saturday, March 15, with its all-ages 4th West Fest, which will be held from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and feature live music, vendors, food and drinks.
Piper Down • 1492 S. State St., Salt Lake City, 801-468-1492; piperdownpub.com • This Irish-themed pub will be celebrating St. Patrick’s Day with live music all weekend.
On Friday will be the annual St. Practice Day party, with music from Murphy & the Giant. The Heathen Highlanders will also be performing sets of traditional bagpipes and drums. The music starts at 8:30 p.m.; cover is $5.
On Saturday, Piper Down will be throwing its Pre-St. Pat’s Party with food and drink specials and live music. The Red Headed Step Twins will perform from noon to 2 p.m., Callanish will perform from 2:30 to 5 p.m., Swagger will perform from 6 to 9 p.m., and Folk Hogan will perform from 9:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. There will also be bagpipe performances at 11:30 a.m., 2 p.m., 5 p.m., 7:30 p.m., 9 p.m. and 11 p.m.
On St. Patrick’s Day, there will be food and drink specials as well as live music all day. The Red Headed Step Twins will perform at noon, David Burchfield & the Fire Guild will play at 2:30 p.m., The Salt Lake Whalefishers will perform at 5:30 p.m., Finch & the Magpies will play at 7:30 p.m., and Murphy & the Giant will play at 9:30 p.m. There will also be performances from the Heathen Highlanders at 11:30 a.m., 2 p.m., 5 p.m., 7 p.m., 9 p.m. and 10:30 p.m.
Prohibition • 151 E. 6100 South, Murray; 801-900-4185; prohibitionutah.com • Prohibition is celebrating the weekend with a St. Patrick’s Day burlesque show on Saturday, March 15, with performances at 7:30 p.m., 9:30 p.m. and 11 p.m. Admission is $10 at the door, and reservations are recommended.
St. Regis Deer Valley • 2300 Deer Valley Drive East, Park City, 435-940-5700; SRDVDining.com • St. Regis Deer Valley will be celebrating St. Patrick’s Day with a DJ in The Vintage Room from 2 to 7 p.m., as well as a bagpipers on the Mountain Terrace and the Astor Terrace during the same hours. Brasserie 7452 and The St. Regis Bar will be serving food specials like shepherd’s pie, Irish brown bread nachos, pretzels with pub beer cheese, and corned beef & cabbage. There will also be Irish-themed drinks, with alcohol and without, available at the St. Regis bar and throughout the resort.
