Your St. Paddy’s Day Guide
Time with friends spinning away
Surprise! Anchorage is home to some fantastic St. Patrick’s Day celebrations, starting with the show from Arctic Siren Cabaret. Any season is a great time to check out this show, but on St. Patrick’s Day you’ll be treated to bagpipes, cloggers and plenty of green-flanked fun. Featuring the Irish Dance Academy of Alaska, the Northern Lights Celtic Dancers, and Alaskan singers like Dawn Berg and Philip Price, tickets start at $20.
Head to the Hard Rock Cafe for the unofficial afterparty. In collaboration with the Irish Cultural Collective, you can indulge in ceili dance lessons, which is a unique blend of square and contra dancing. Live music and an expert caller lead the night starting at 6:30 p.m. Alternatively, live music goes all night in the downstairs space.
Party On
Pipe bands hop around Anchorage on St. Patrick’s Day weekend, playing at top venues. Check out two bands including Alaska Celtic Pipes and Drums and Crow Creek Pipes and Drums at one of the biggest (and most fun) fundraisers of the year. With so many shows happening over the weekend, there’s sure to be one, two or three that fit with your schedule.
You can also celebrate like a local at McGinley’s. Featuring a traditional Celtic band at 7:30 along with the usual Irish cuisine, it’s like landing in Ireland without ever leaving Alaska. There’s also Reilly’s Irish Pub on Fireweed Lane where outside tents are set up with dancing, Irish car bombs, and a few surprises.