St. Patrick's Day Activities in the Ocean State

From runs and dances to parades and musical performances, there are always plenty of ways to celebrate St. Paddy's Day in our home state. Below is a quick list of our top five St. Patrick's Day events this upcoming week. This year marks the 59th Annual Newport St. Patrick’s Day Parade. The parade is held rain or shine (or snow!) on Saturday, March 14th and begins at 11:00AM at Newport City Hall. The parade will include a host of performances such as Marching and Pipe Bands as well as reenactment units. Many local organizations will be present as well, such as the Boy and Girl Scouts, various non-profits, and police and fire units. For a complete list of performances and parade participants, visit the parade website.   The Peace Dale Library is celebrating St. Patrick's Day by holding Irish Step Dance lessons at 6:00PM on Tuesday, March 17th followed by a "Humor and the Harp" performance by Celtic harpist Mary King. The event is free and open to the public.   Every year, Providence hosts a St. Pat’s 5k or “Tour De Patrick” which begins at the Rhode Island State House. This year, the race will start at 11:00AM on Saturday, March 21st. The race marks the third leg of "The Tour de Patrick." At the conclusion of the race, the overall Tour de Patrick results will be calculated by combining runners' times for all three races.   After the race finishes, the Providence Parade kicks off around noon from Whitford and ends at the State House. The festivities continue to Patrick’s Pub on Smith Street, where Providence's Grand Marshall will pass over the shillelagh to his Deputy, who will take over next year. The pub festivities include live entertainment, music, step dancing, and of course, plenty of beer.   The Friendly Sons of St. Patrick of the Pawtuxet Valley holds its own St. Patrick’s Day Parade every year set on a mile-long route in West Warwick. The 56th annual parade begins on Sunday, March 15th at 1:00PM on Route 117 and ends at the American Legion Hall.