Things to Do

Everyone is ‘Dyeing’ to Go To the San Antonio River Walk for St. Patrick’s Day

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Tony Maples Photography

 

It can be said that we all have a little Irish in us, but the San Antonio River will have a whole lot of Irish in it the weekend of March 16 and 17th. Since 1968, every year around St. Patrick’s Day, the 2.5 mile stretch of the San Antonio River that snakes through downtown has been dyed green in honor of the luckiest of holidays. This year, you can witness this Irish transformation as 25 gallons of ecologically appropriate green dye is poured into the river, rendering it greener than the Blarney Stone in honor of the most magical of all Irish holidays.

Held at Maddog’s British Pub

St. Patrick's Day

Photo: Facebook/TheSanAntonioRiverwalkOfficial

The event, hosted by Maddogs British Pub on the River Walk, begins at 1 p.m. on Friday, March 16 and features a free viewing of the process as well as the enjoyment of bagpipers playing traditional Irish and Scottish music as the river takes on a decidedly shamrock-y hue. The constant stream of barge traffic helps to swill the dye and the color of the river intensifies as the day goes on.

Bud Light St. Patrick’s Day Festival

Irish Festival

Photo: Facebook/TheSanAntonioRiverWalkOfficial

The festivities continue throughout the weekend with the Bud Light St. Patrick’s Day Festival on the River Walk. The two-day long event runs from 12 p.m. until 8 p.m. and features a family-friendly event called “Passport to Ireland.” Face painting, henna art, live music, green Bud Light, and food round out this exciting celebration of all things Irish in the heart of San Antonio. The Irish Festival is hosted by the San Antonio River Walk Association and the Harp & Shamrock Society of Texas.

St. Patrick’s Day is the official day of observance for the death of the patron saint of Ireland, St. Patrick. St. Patrick, although widely said to have “banished snakes from Ireland,” is said to be somewhat of a mystery, as little is known about him. St. Patrick’s Day began as a 17th century religious feast day that has morphed into a weekend-long celebration complete with copious amounts of beer, food, music, and dancing that is immortalized all over the world.

To learn more about the San Antonio St. Patrick’s Day festivities, visit the website for the River Walk.