Here are some ways to enjoy the St. Patrick's Day holiday around the Reno/Tahoe region. There is a lot of green beer and drinking, with several related events happening as well. Those who enjoy the Irish pub scene will find a wide selection of establishments from which to choose.
Free St. Patrick's Day Safe RIDE Program
Make it a safe St. Patrick's Day and ride the bus if your celebrating involves enjoying green beer, ale, and Irish whiskey. RTC RIDE, RTC RAPID, and RTC CONNECT will be offering free rides from 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. on routes throughout the Truckee Meadows. Sierra SPIRIT, the always free downtown Reno bus system, will be extending hours of operation to midnight. RTC is sponsoring this freebie, along with the Northern Nevada DUI Task Force, Alice 96.5, Swag 97.3, KOLO 8, Drive Safe Nevada, and Ceol Irish Pub. The RTC website has the Safe Ride Program schedule for St. Patrick's Day, March 17.
Reno / Tahoe Irish Pubs
Judging from how many there are, hoisting a few at Reno / Tahoe Irish pubs has got to be a popular activity. Come St. Patrick's Day, these establishments roll out their finest green beer, Irish ale, and food fit for the Emerald Isle.
St. Baldrick's Foundation Shamrock Shave
Shamrock Shave is a fund raising head shaving event for the St. Baldrick's Foundation, a non-profit supporting childhood cancer research. This year's Shamrock Shave will be in the Exhibit Hall at the Reno-Sparks Livestock Events Center, 1350 N. Wells Avenue in Reno. Be Brave & Go Bald from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on St. Patrick's Day. If you'd like to volunteer to be shaved or to donate, call (775) 825-0888.
St. Patrick's Day Party of Parties at Ceol Irish Pub
Ceol Irish Pub throws one of Reno's best St. Patrick's Day parties. Starting at 11 a.m., food will be dished up by Land & Sea Specialty Meat Co. Music and Irish merriment will continue with music by The Blarney Band, The Clarke Brothers, The Mark Sexton Band, and Neil O'Kane. Ceol Irish Pub is at 538 S. Virginia Street in Reno. Info phone is (775) 329-5558.
St. Patrick's Day Wine Walk
The Riverwalk Wine Walk in downtown Reno will have a special St. Patrick's Day theme, with proceeds going to benefit the Nevada Colon Cancer Partnership. The Wine Walk is from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. and includes participation by many businesses in the Riverwalk District. To do the walk, take your $20 to any participating merchant for a wine glass and ID bracelet (this involves drinking, so you've got to be at least 21).
St. Patrick's Day Pub Crawl on Wells Avenue
The biggest concentration of Irish pubs (and other watering holes) in Reno is located along Wells Avenue. Some of these include Corrigan's, Ryan's Saloon, Wonder Bar, Lucke's Saloon, The Broken Spoke, and Rapscallion. Filthy McNasty's Irish Bar is just off the south end of Wells. To encourage bar hopping behavior, shamrocks have been painted on the sidewalks to guide revelers from one bar to the next (Last time I looked, though, they were pretty faded). Ryan's anchors the north end of the crawl and Rapscallion is on the south end.
Rapscallion St. Patrick's Day Party
The annual Rapscallion St. Patrick's Day party features live music, green beer, and Irish stew under the canopy in the their parking lot, from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. The Rapscallion Seafood House and Bar is at 1555 S. Wells Avenue and Vesta Street in Reno. For more information, call (775) 323-1211.
St. Patrick's Day at CommRow
CommRow in downtown Reno will be doing St. Patrick's Day with live music from The Reagan Years from 8 p.m. to 11:59 p.m. The party will continue with DJs Chris Payne and DJ Max. Everything will be happening in the Centric Cabaret. CommRow is at 255 N. Virginia Street, right next to the Reno Arch. The information phone is (775) 398-5400.
Club Cal Neva St. Patrick's Day Beer Crawl
This St. Patrick's Day bash at Club Cal Neva goes from 5 p.m. to 11:45 p.m. $10 gets you Irish-themed drinks served from different bars as you crawl through the place. There will be a $100 prize for most traditional costume, and $100 each for most outrageous and most sexy costumes. Prizes will be awarded at 9 p.m. in the Cabaret Bar. The Club Cal Neva is at 38 East 2nd St. in downtown Reno. Call (877) 777-7303 for information.
The Sons & Daughters of Erin Present the 43rd Annual St. Patrick's Dinner & Show
The Sons and Daughters of Erin will be presenting this St. Patrick's Day Dinner & Show at the Best Western Airport Plaza Hotel, 1981 Terminal Way in Reno. The party is on Saturday, March 10 and begins at 4:30 p.m. with Irish whiskey tasting. There will be a raffle starting at 5 p.m., with dinner at 6 p.m. Ceremonies and the program commence at 7 p.m. Entertainment will include the Sierra Highlanders Pipe Band, the Blarney Band, and the Blanchette Dancers. For reservations and information, call Willie Puchert at (775) 378-0931 or email wpuchert@aol.com.
Green Light Go St. Patty's Day Party at the Knitting Factory
The Knitting Factory's 4th Annual Green Light Go St. Patty's Day Party is an 18+ affair, with a full bar available to those 21 and over. The party starts at 10 p.m. and the cover is $12, or $10 if you are wearing green. There will be a "Shake Your Shamrock" contest for cash and prizes of $250. The Knitting Factory Concert House is at 211 N. Virginia St. in downtown Reno. The info phone is (775) 323-5648.
St. Patty's Parties at the Eldorado
The Eldorado is going green with St. Patrick's Day parties on March 17. The Brew Brothers will have live music by Alias playing top 40 hits, followed by late night sets from DJ D.Rek. Make Addiction Saturdays your new weekend habit and enjoy the luck of the Irish at BuBinga Lounge. Sounds by (((xm fredie))), Roni Romance and Jessica the Ripper and visuals by VJ A-Jay. Doors open at 10 p.m. There is a $10 cover Friday and Saturday nights. Stylish club attire required. For VIP or bottle service, call Denielle at (775) 391-9079. For more information, call 775-786-5700. The Eldorado is at 345 N. Virginia Street in downtown Reno.
Celtic Heritage at the Sparks Heritage Museum
Just in time for St. Patrick's Day, the Sparks Heritage Museum is currently hosting a new Celtic Heritage exhibit. Visitors will have the opportunity to learn about Celtic traditions and customs, not only in the Museum, but also through dance and music performances in the Cultural Center. Events related to the Celtic Heritage exhibit include…
- Sunday, March 4 – 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. The Blachette Irish Dancers, Celtic Session Musicians and others will perform at a reception for The Sons & Daughters of Erin. You are invited to meet the members and learn more during this fun filled afternoon. SADOE’s “Irish Person of the Year” will be honored.
- Saturday, March 17 – Victorian Square St. Patrick’s Day music & festivities.
- Saturday, April 21 – time TBA – Scottish Clans Reception & Celtic Jam.
St. Patrick's Day Laughs with Reno-Tahoe Comedy
Reno-Tahoe Comedy is presenting a weekend (Friday, March 16 and Saturday, March 17) of all-Irish comedians for St. Patrick's Day revelry. The headliner will be DC Malone and his Irish friends/drinking buddies. There will be drink specials and the first 30 women who come wearing Irish green will get free admission. Tickets are $12 in advance, $16 at the door. Doors open on both days at 6 p.m., show starts at 7 p.m. The late show on Saturday is R-rated (doors open at 8:45 p.m., show starts at 9:30 p.m.). Reno-Tahoe Comedy plays at the Pioneer Underground, 100 S. Virginia St. in Reno (next to the Pioneer Center for the Performing Arts).
Keep going... There are more St. Patrick's Day activities on the next page.
