Here are some ways to enjoy the St. Patrick's Day holiday around Reno, Sparks, and Lake Tahoe. There is a lot of green beer and drinking, but events of a more family friendly nature are happening as well. Those who enjoy the Irish pub scene will find a wide selection of establishments from which to choose, with the exception of Limerick's. It closed in November, 2008, along with its host hotel casino, Fitzgerald's.
Free Bus Rides on St. Patrick's Day
Make it a safe St. Patrick's Day and ride the bus if your celebrating involves enjoying green beer and ale. At several Reno and Sparks pubs, bars, and restaurants, you can get a free two-ride bus pass just by asking the bartender. RTC RIDE is sponsoring this freebie, along with the Northern Nevada DUI Task Force, Alie 96.5, Reno News & Review, and Ceol Irish Pub. The RTC website has a
list of participating establishments.
40th Annual St. Patrick's Day Dinner and Show
March 14 - The Sons and Daughters of Erin present this
St. Patrick's Day Dinner, Show, and Auction at the Atlantis Casino Resort Spa in Reno. It will be in the Grand Ballroom of the hotel's new addition, 3800 S. Virginia St. in Reno. The party begins at 6 p.m. and goes till 9:20 p.m. There will be food, drink, musical entertainment, and local celebrities and dignitaries galore. Tickets are $40 adults, $25 children, and available at numerous locations such as The Isles, Ceol Irish Pub, Austin's, and Studio on 4th. For ticket and reservations information, contact Noreen Neely at (775) 331-0993.
9th Annual Top O' The Mornin' Fun Run/Walk at Sparks Marina Park
March 15 -
Top O' The Mornin' participants are encouraged to wear the green and get into the St. Patrick's Day spirit for this two mile walk/run or 10K timed run around Sparks Marina Park, located at 300 Howard Drive. The 10K race will be starting first at 8:30 a.m. Participants can
register online through March 6, or at the Recreation Office, 98 Richards Way in Sparks. The fee is $18, which includes a T-shirt, refreshments after the race, and a $5 discount coupon good for any Sparks Parks and Recreation program. The race day registration fee is $25 and will be from 6:30 a.m. to 7:45 a.m. at the park. Please note - dogs, bikes, skateboards, scooters, and skates are not permitted at this event.
Top O' The Mornin' benefits the Sparks Youth Scholarship Fund, which assists children who cannot otherwise afford to participate in recreation programs. For more information, call (775) 353-7898.
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.
Amendment 21 St. Patrick's Day Parking Lot Party
Amendment 21 Grill & Sports Bar will have St. Patrick's Day entertainment with the Smiley Mikey Band, starting at 4 p.m. on its outdoor stage. At 6 p.m., Goldiehawn takes over. On the indoor stage 317 will fire up at 6 p.m. There will, of course, be Irish themed drink specials. Amendment 21 is in downtown Reno at 425 S. Virginia Street at California Avenue. Call (775) 786-0808 for more information.
Rapscallion St. Patrick's Day Event
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 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. The
Rapscallion Seafood House and Bar is at 1555 S. Wells Avenue in Reno. For more information, call (775) 323-1211.
2nd Annual Un-Official St. Patrick's Day
This unofficial bar hopping event takes place in downtown Reno's Riverwalk District and is officially sponsored by the
Riverwalk Merchant's Association. From noon till closing on Saturday, March 14, look for drink specials, entertainment, and giveaways at these establishments - Imperial, SE7EN, SE7EN on West, Jungle Vino, Pizza Reno,Wild River Grille, Sierra Taphouse, and 5 Star Saloon.
St. Patrick's Day Along the Riverwalk
On the real St. Patrick's Day, take a stroll through the
Riverwalk District and enjoy discounts, food and drink specials, artist showcases, live music, and entertainment.
Virginia City St. Patrick's Day Parade & Mountain Oyster Cook-Off
Virginia City's annual St. Patrick's Day Parade is at noon, featuring marching leprechauns and other green attractions. In conjunction with the parade, participants in the Mountain Oyster Cook-Off will be serving up this delicacy (yes, they are sheep testicles) cooked in a variety of ways. I've never tried it, but I've heard that if you like clams, mussels, or real oysters, you'll like these. For more information, contact the
Virginia City Visitor's Center at (775) 847-4386.
