SPOKANE, Wash. – If you are looking to celebrate the luck of the Irish this St. Patrick’s Day, the Inland Northwest has you covered.
Spokane and surrounding cities will be hubs of activity with parties and parades on Saturday, Mar. 17.
If you cannot find any green in your closet and want to avoid those dreaded pinches, you can celebrate with a green beer from O’Doherty’s Irish Grille located in downtown Spokane.
Spokane’s main celebration processes through downtown. The 40th Annual St. Patrick’s Day parades begins at 12 p.m. in downtown and will snake its way around Riverfront Park, according to VisitSpokane. Arrive early for a viewing spot and remember not to drink along the parade route.
Coeur d'Alene will also host a free, family-friendly parade beginning at 4 p.m. at 8th Street and Sherman Avenue. The parade will end at 1st Street. Afterward, you can check out the bars and restaurants throughout the city's downtown area.
Check out Dockside restaurant in Coeur d'Alene if you are looking to satisfy a sweet tooth. Their featured Gooey of the Month, a giant ice cream sundae big enough to share, is the Shamrock. The treat starts with chocolate ice cream and house-made chocolate chip mint ice cream, and is drizzled with hot fudge, whipped cream and shamrock sprinkles. To top it all off, you can chow down on two shamrock cookies.
If you are looking for a bit of a getaway, head to Schweitzer Mountain Resort for the Air and Après Showcase, where you can check out tricks from skiers and snowboarders along with mind-bending 3-D graphics. The big event kicks off at sunset and is followed by an evening fireworks display.
Visit SteamPlant Square located at 126 S. Post Street for a post-parade party from 1 p.m. to 10 p.m. Tickets are $10 and include DJs and dancing. Food from One Night Stand BBQ and Mac Daddy’s Gourmet Grub will be available, according to the Facebook event page.
Do not fret if you are unable to make it to the parades and parties. You can join Heavenly Special Teas in the Hillyard District for a three-course, family-friendly St. Patrick’s Day High Tea at 1 p.m. For $22, you can enjoy a high tea complete with games and prizes awarded for festive garb, according to VisitSpokane.
Spokane’s Irish Drinking Team will also host the 13th annual pub crawl through downtown Spokane. Though it began at 7 a.m., you can still get in on the action as the team makes its way to Globe Bar & Kitchen, Fast Eddies Bar & Grill, and Borracho Tacos & Tequileria, to name a few. Check out the event's Facebook page for more information.
Spokane’s Garland District will also host its 2nd annual St. Patrick’s Day Pub Crawl, according to VisitSpokane. A $7 wristbrand grants you access to 7 different locations from 6 p.m. to 1 p.m. You will be entered into a drawing for $700 worth of cash and prizes if you visit all of the locations.
For more events in Spokane, you can check out VisitSpokane’s St. Patrick’s Day event page.
Trooper J. Sevigney reminded everyone to be responsible and avoid drinking and driving via Twitter. In 2016, eight fatal crashes killed nine people in Washington over St. Patrick’s Day weekend. That was more than the previous five years combined.
