Family-Friendly St. Patrick’s Day Events Around Portland

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Whether you’re Irish or not, Portland is a fantastic place to be on St. Patrick’s Day. Between our growing number of Irish pubs and popular community events, you will find plenty of ways to celebrate. Since the holiday falls on a Saturday this year, prepare for a full weekend of family-friendly festivities! So, don that kelly-green feather boa you wear once a year, and dress your kids in their shamrock sunglasses and silly leprechaun hats. It’s time to round up the family and celebrate Paddy’s Day in Portland! 

st. patrick's day

Community Events

Murphy’s Furniture St. Patrick’s Day Parade (Saturday, March 17)

1151 NE Grant St., Hillsboro

At the annual Murphy’s Furniture St. Patrick’s Day Parade, parade-goers will enjoy floats, cars, equestrian groups, motorcycles, dirt bikes, bagpipes, and more. TVW’s First Annual Charity 4K Fun Run/Walk for people of all abilities will begin at 10:30 a.m. (30 minutes before Murphy’s Parade begins).  The race route is exactly the same as the parade’s, beginning at Hare Field (1151 NE Grant in Hillsboro). 

All-Ireland Cultural Society of Oregon St. Patrick’s Day Festival  (Saturday, March 17)

1333 NE MLK, JR. Blvd., Portland

This year marks the 77th annual St. Patrick’s Day Festival hosted by the All-Ireland Cultural Society of Oregon. Adults and children alike will enjoy Irish dancers, live music, a puppet show, bagpipes, a raffle, and more 3 – 8 p.m. Food and beverages will be available for purchase. 

St. Agatha’s Parade and Festival (Saturday, March 17)

 7960 SE 15th, Portland

Join the hundreds of visitors who take part in the St. Agatha’s parade through Sellwood and Westmoreland. The parade, featuring the Sellwood Middle School Marching Band, will kick off the festival as hundreds of visitors, including children with decorated bikes and wagons, travel the parade route proudly wearing their green. Enjoy the live music, Irish dancers, and bagpipes during the festival following the parade. 

12 p.m. Parade 
12 – 5 p.m. Food vendors, food carts, beer garden and live music  
12 – 5 p.m. Carnival
5 p.m. Mass at St. Agatha Church

Shamrock Run (Sunday, March 18)

If you’re looking for a more active way to celebrate the holiday with your family, sign up for Oregon’s largest walk/run. The Adidas Shamrock Run offers competitive races at 5 kilometers (3.1 miles), 8 kilometers (4.97 miles), 15 kilometers (9.3 miles), and a half-marathon (13.1 miles). The Shamrock Stride is an all-ages 4-mile fitness walk with city views and a river walk including the Tilikum Crossing and Steel Bridges. Children 12 and under can take part in the 1k Leprechaun Lap, and ages three and up can participate in the 5k or 8k Shamrock Run.  

All events start at SW Naito Pkwy. and Pine Street, adjacent to Waterfront Park. Start times vary. See shamrockrunportland.com for details. 

Family-friendly Irish Pub Events

Paddy’s 2017 St. Patrick’s Day 2-Day Festival (March 17-18)

65 SW Yamhill St., Portland 

The Paddy’s tented street party will open Saturday, March 17 and will include stage dancers, music, and bagpipes. Kids 12 and under are free and are welcome until 9:30 p.m. each night. 

March 17 Opens at 11 a.m.
March 18 Opens at 8:00 a.m. 

Kell’s Irish Festival and 2nd Annual Irish Beer Festival (March 16 – 18)

Kell’s Downtown – 112 SW 2nd Ave, Portland 
Kell’s Brewery – 210 NW 21st Ave, Portland 

Grab some corned beef and cabbage with your brood at either of the Kell’s locations. Check out the live music, Irish dancers, bagpipes, vendors, face painting, crafts, balloons, and more. Visit Kells Brew Pub for details about the Irish Beer Festival, and Kells Irish Pub for details about the Irish Festival. 

Any others we’ve missed? Please share details in the comments!

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Kathleen
After visiting family in Oregon as a young girl, Kathleen became smitten with the Pacific Northwest and decided that someday she would settle and raise a family in this rainy wonderland. Bitten by the travel bug, she went to college, travelled, studied and worked in Europe for 3 years. But upon her return to New Mexico where she grew up, she knew it was time to pursue that childhood dream. She moved to Portland in 2003 with her adventurous fiance (now husband) who she met on an elevator. She still pinches herself occasionally when she realizes how blessed they are to live in this amazing state. Kathleen is mother to two entertaining children. The flexibility of her part-time job as a writing instructor at a local college allows her to work mostly from home, as well as home school her oldest child two days per week. When she’s not grading essays, wiping snotty noses, or picking up dog poo, she spends her time gardening, discovering hiking trails, teaching herself the fiddle, and exploring Oregon with her little brood.

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