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Top 10 Ways to Celebrate St. Patrick's Day in Dutchess County

Date Published: February 23, 2024

From Irish music and dance performances to pub food paired with locally crafted beer, there are countless ways to enjoy St. Patrick’s Day here in Dutchess County. Only a 90-minute train ride from New York City via Metro-North or Amtrak, Dutchess is the perfect destination for an unforgettable getaway in the heart of the Hudson Valley.  

Use this list of the Top 10 Ways to Enjoy St. Patrick’s Day in Dutchess to help you plan your trip. Be sure to take lots of pictures, and feel free to share them here and tag @DutchessTourism on social media.

Plus, if you’re in need of a relaxing getaway this winter, be sure to read our spotlight articles on Winter Travel Perks and Deals in Dutchess and Winter Road Trip to These Quaint Towns to help plan your escape. 

For information about St. Patrick’s Day parades in Dutchess, including “America’s Shortest Parade” in Pawling on Feb. 24, click here.

Sample Irish Pub Grub…With a Twist 

Seven days a week at Juan Murphy’s, Poughkeepsie 

This classic trivia spot in Poughkeepsie offers an unforgettable atmosphere with one-of-a-kind fusion. Famously, Juan Murphy’s is an Irish pub that serves Mexican grub. Corned beef reubens, Guinness-BBQ wings, and hot pastrami “Dubliners” join loaded nachos, fajita bowls, and pulled pork burritos. There’s something for everyone at this fun Dutchess County hangout, with game nights, Wednesday trivia and live music every Friday and Saturday. Plus, catch Irish jam sessions every other Tuesday from 6 – 8 p.m. 


Related: A First-Timer's Guide to Dutchess County


Rock Out with the Dropkick Murphys 

Monday, March 11, 7 p.m. at the MJN Convention Center, Poughkeepsie 

Get ready for a night of high-energy music and loads of fun with Celtic punk icons the Dropkick Murphys at the Majed J. Nesheiwat Convention Center, formerly the Mid-Hudson Civic Center. The Murphys' St. Patrick's Day Tour rumbles into Poughkeepsie along with special guests Pennywise and The Scratch. To purchase tickets, click here. If time allows, spend the night at the newly remodeled DoubleTree by Hilton Poughkeepsie, which is next door.


Sloop Brewing Company at The Factory, Hopewell Junction
Sloop Brewing Company at The Factory, Hopewell Junction

Sample Local Beers

March 13 – 17 at the Sloop Brewing Company at The Factory, Hopewell Junction

Why limit yourself to one St. Patrick’s Day when you can celebrate for a week? That’s what the folks at Sloop thought when they created their Five Days of St. Patrick’s Day. Enjoy an exclusive beer line-up and snag special $12 glassware that includes a complimentary first pour and $5 refills, along with Irish-inspired food specials, and live music by the Hooley Shooters. Click here to learn more. Slainte!


The Station Grille, Poughquag
The Station Grille, Poughquag

Solve a “Wee Bit o’ Murder” Mystery 

Friday, March 15, 7 p.m. at The Station Grille, Poughquag 

The Acme Murder Mystery Company presents “A Wee Bit o’ Murder,” an interactive murder mystery dinner, at The Station Grille. Tickets include a delicious dinner menu full of your favorite Irish classics along with the show Click here to purchase tickets. The Station hosts live music events most Friday and Saturday nights. Enjoy a special St. Patrick's Day performance by Noise in the Basement on March 17.


Kick Up Your Heels in a 5k Race 

Saturday, March 16, 9 a.m. at J.H. Ketcham Memorial Park, Dover Plains 

Lace up those sneakers and get ready to run (or walk) in the second annual St. Patrick’s 5k hosted by the Eastern Dutchess Road Runners Club. The race starts and finishes in J.H. Ketcham Memorial Park, and the course is on town roads with several small, rolling hills. Awards for the top three male, female and non-binary finishers. Stick around for celebratory snacks and shamrock shakes. Click here to register. 


Daryls House, Pawling
Daryl's House, Pawling

Jam Out to Celtic Rock 

Saturday, March 16, 8 p.m. at Daryl’s House, Pawling 

Run by one-half of the legendary duo Hall & Oates, Daryl’s House Club in Pawling is an electric venue for live music. What better way to celebrate St. Patrick than with a Celtic rock concert? The Mighty Ploughboys, a five-piece, Connecticut-based power group, performs its own unique mix of classic rock and traditional Irish music. Doors open at 5 p.m., and the band starts shredding promptly at 8 p.m. To reserve tickets, click here. Not available that night? Daryl’s House hosts live music events four or five nights every week. Be sure to check out the schedule of upcoming shows.


Towne Crier Cafe, Beacon
Towne Crier Cafe, Beacon

Discover Traditional Irish Music 

Sunday, March 17, 7 p.m. at the Towne Crier Cafe, Beacon 

Looking for a true taste of the Emerald Isle experience? Spend an evening at Beacon’s cozy Towne Crier Cafe and enjoy a performance by The Jeremiahs, a four-piece authentic Celtic band. Click here to purchase tickets. While you’re there, be sure to grab a decadent dessert made in-house by pastry chef Mary Ciganer. The Towne Crier, a Dutchess County icon for more than 50 years, hosts live music performances several nights each week. Check out their event calendar.


Show the Little Ones Irish Dance 

Every Third Sunday, 3 p.m. at Solas An Lae School of American Irish Dance, Red Hook 

Do you have a dancer in the family? Bring them to a Sunday Matinee Series performance at the Solas An Lae School of American Irish Dance. Red Hook’s dance company aims to explore the unlimited possibilities of the Celtic art form. Every third Sunday, get a glimpse into the SAL training process. Artistic director Deirdre Lowry’s choreography leads to incredible step work. Sessions are open to the public on a first-come, first-serve basis. 


Sample the Largest Selection of Irish Whiskey in the Nation

Wednesdays through Saturdays, 6 p.m. – 12 a.m. at Traghaven Whiskey Pub, Tivoli 

Uisce breatha is the Irish name for whiskey, translating literally to “water of life.” Traghaven Whiskey Pub boasts a massive collection of booze from across the Atlantic. Browse the extensive whiskey menu by single-malt, blended, single-potstill, ryes, bourbons and Scotch. Then, snack on Irish staples like fish and chips, shepherd’s pie, and, of course, corned beef and cabbage. Check the Traghaven Facebook page for announcements, as Traghaven is known for all sorts of entertainment. In the past, they’ve hosted live jazz, pub-play readings, trivia nights and traditional Hootenannys.


Enjoy “An Irish Goodbye”

Saturday, April 20, 7 p.m. at Kaatsbaan Cultural Park, Tivoli

Kaatsbaan presents a musical experience of love, loss, and new beginnings, directed by Will Chase and showcasing Irish singer/songwriter Mick Lynch from Dublin. Featuring songs and stories, “An Irish Goodbye” tells how Mick Lynch's music led him from Ireland to America, where he found love and lost loved ones, ultimately highlighting the human condition and the importance of family. Click here to reserve tickets. 


OConnors Public House Pawling
O'Connor's Public House, Pawling

Parades 

Pawling’s Unofficial St. Patrick’s Day Parade 

Saturday, Feb. 24, 10:30 a.m. on Broad Street, Pawling 

The Village of Pawling is the place to be for those looking to get a head start on their St. Patrick’s Day revelry. Now in its seventh year, Pawling’s Unofficial St. Patrick’s Day Parade has become quite a popular event despite being held nearly a month ahead of its namesake holiday. Covering a mere 223 feet of Broad Street, it’s become known as “America’s Shortest Parade,” but there’s an awful lot of fun packed into every inch of it. The event kicks off at 10:30 a.m. with a free concert by the Red Hots. The Nerds keep the party rocking with a free concert following the parade. 


Dutchess County St. Patrick’s Parade 

Saturday, March 2, 1 p.m. in Wappingers Falls 

Andy O'Grady of the Dutchess County Gaelic Athletic Association has been named the Grand Marshal for the 29th annual Dutchess County St. Patrick’s Parade. This is certain to be another fantastic event the whole family will enjoy, just as it has been year after year. Be sure to dress in green and head to Wappingers Falls for all the fun. For a map of the parade route, click here.


St. Patrick’s Day Parade of Green 

Saturday, March 9, 12 p.m. on Main Street, Beacon 

Don your most festive green attire and head to the City of Beacon for the St. Patrick’s Day Parade of Green. The parade conveniently falls on BeaconArts' Second Saturday. Explore Beacon’s hottest bars, restaurants, breweries and art galleries late into the evening!

 

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