St. Pete’s Paddy Fest Grows into Premier Irish Celebration, Expands With Shamrock Block Party

Paddy Fest will take over Williams Park from March 13 to 15. Live acts, a vendor's market, food trucks, and a 7,500-square-foot children's play area await guests. This year, the three-day bash grows with a block party on 3rd St. N. set for March 17, the actual St. Patrick's Day.

Pete Boland launched the festival four years back. He's watched it blossom into the city's top Irish bash. Nearly 10,000 visitors arrived that first year. The owner of Mary Margaret's Olde Irish Tavern says he lost money during that initial run because he didn't know what he was doing.

"This is truly a passion for me," Boland said, according to the St. Pete Catalyst. "I love throwing a good party. I love downtown St. Pete, and I believe in the future and prosperity of the park. And I am an incredibly proud Irish American."

Proceeds help fund Ocean Aid 360, which creates community-inclusive design, implementation, and monitoring of marine habitat restoration programs.

This year's lineup brings Derek Warfield and the Young Wolfe Tones performing Saturday and Sunday, March 14 and 15. The Byrne Brothers, an Irish family band from Donegal now based in Orlando, will also take the stage. Seven Nations, the South Carolina Celtic band, joins the roster along with the Bawdy Boys, St. Pete Irish Dance, City of Dunedin Pipe Band, and Suncoast United Pipes and Drums.

Boland says last year's program lacked the right acts. He wanted to step things up.

The tavern owner has run block parties before and knows the drill. He also owns The Galley: A St. Pete Tavern. Boland recalls thinking that St. Pete deserves a proper St. Patrick's Day festival.

"I'd say I have become a festival organizer now," Boland said. "I kind of look at it as a responsibility."

The Shamrock the Block Party on Tuesday, March 17 will happen in front of Mary Margaret's in partnership with the City of St. Petersburg. The street will be temporarily closed.

Admission prices, schedules, and VIP packages are available on the Paddy Fest website.