Celebrate Kansas City's rich Irish Heritage at a local St. Patrick's Day Parade or special event! Here is your Complete Guide to St. Patrick's Day fun in Kansas City:
Note: This list was compiled by the staff of KC Parent Magazine. Email kristina@kcparent.com with additions or corrections.
St. Patrick's Day Parades & Festivals
The following parades have been CANCELED:
- Snake Saturday Festival and Parade CANCELED due to COVID-19
- 2020 Emerald Isle Parade: Downtown Lee' Summit CANCELED due to COVID-19
- Brookside's Annual St. Patrick's Warm-Up Parade CANCELED due to COVID-19
- Belton St. Patrick's Day Parade CANCELED due to COVID-19
- 38th Annual Shawnee St. Patrick's Day Parade CANCELED due to COVID-19
- Martin City St. Patrick's Parade CANCELED due to COVID-19
- Kansas City's St. Patrick's Day Parade CANCELED due to COVID-19
- Lawrence St. Patrick's Parade CANCELED due to COVID-19
- Tonganoxie's 32nd Annual St. Patricks Day Parade CANCELED due to COVID-19
- Leavenworth St. Patrick's Day Parade CANCELED due to COVID-19
Shortest and Smallest St. Patrick's Day Parade in the World Mar. 17 at 9 am at Downtown Blue Springs 1112 Main St, City of Blue Springs, MO. The annual Blue Springs "Shortest and Smallest'' St. Patrick's Day Parade in the world will be held on Main Street in downtown Blue Springs. The parade route begins at 1112 W. Main and goes across the street to 1123 W. Main Street. Pre-Parade festivities begin at 8 a.m. with coffee, doughnuts, and conversation at the Soda Fountain and end directly across the street at The Keg. The parade route was officially measured at 66 feet by former City Engineer, Oliver De Grate.
St. Patrick's Day Fun: Concerts, Crafts, Storytime, and Fun
Danú – St. Patrick’s Celebration March 7 from 8-10pm at Carlsen Center 12345 College Blvd, Overland Park, KS. Hailing from historic County Waterford, Danú is one of the leading traditional Irish ensembles of today. Playing to standing-room-only concerts throughout Ireland, Danú delivers high-energy performances and a glorious mix of ancient Irish music and new repertoire. For two decades, Danú’s virtuosi players on flute, tin whistle, fiddle, button accordion, bouzouki and vocals (Irish and English) have taken audiences on a musical journey to their native Ireland, offering a moving and memorable concert experience.
Connie Dover & Kelly Werts Concert March 13 at 6:30 pm at Acoustic Alcove at Unity Village. Paint the Alcove Green on St. Patrick's Day weekend! Renowned Celtic and Folk artists Connie Dover and Kelly Werts are returning to our stage for the fourth straight year. Doors open at 5:45 pm; beer, wine and refreshments available; the Coffee Shop will be open; parking is free and the Unity Village grounds are the perfect place to shake off your winter blues. Come out to the Alcove for a magical evening.
NOTE: Adjusted schedule: St. Patrick's Day at the Zoo Mar. 14 & 15 at Kansas City Zoo, 6800 Zoo Drive, Kansas City, MO. We have cancelled this weekend’s animal parade, leprechaun meet and greet, and Irish dancers in celebration of St. Patrick’s Day. However, animals will still receive St. Patrick’s themed enrichment items. As of now, all other future events will go on as planned, but we will continue to monitor the situation and make adjustments as necessary.
CANCELED - Westport St. Patrick's Day 4 Miler
St. Patrick's Day Week at Paradise Park Mar. 15-21 at Paradise Park 1021 NE Colbern Rd, Lee's Summit, MO. Irish eyes are a-smiling with loads of leprechaun-approved fun and spring-themed adventures. Our version of a children's museum, the Discovery Play center will feature a truly wonderful week filled with St. Patty’s Day fun. Choose from a variety of self-directed projects in our Art Studio that can also double as decorations.
CANCELED - Introduction to Quilling: Luck O' the Irish Mar. 16 from 6 - 7:30 pm at Mid-Continent Public Library- North Oak Branch
St. Patrick's Day Celebration Mar 16 from 6-7 pm at Kansas City Kansas Public Library - Turner Community Branch 831 S 55th St, Kansas City, KS. Get ready for St. Patrick's Day by coming to the Turner Community Library to make cereal rainbows and even your own pot of gold. We'll also have snacks on hand for the celebration to give you that leprechaun energy to keep you making even more crafts.
CANCELED due to COVID-19 Leprechauns at the Library Mar. 17 from 2-3 pm at Mid-Continent Public Library - Blue Springs South,
Kansas City's Irish Restaurants and Markets:
Browne's Irish Market 3300 Pennsylvania Ave., Kansas City, MO, 816.561.0030, BrownsIrishMarket.com. The Irish Market opened in Kansas City in 1887, and now the family’s fifth-generation carries on the tradition of serving a wide variety of Irish delicacies. Enjoy handmade sandwiches, Irish potato soup, Irish stew, Dublin potato salad and more, as well as Irish souvenirs. On St. Patrick's Day, Browne's serves a traditional Irish breakfast starting at 7:00 and lunch specials in the afternoon.
The Dubliner Kansas City Power & Light District, 170 E. 14th St., Kansas City, MO, 816.268.4700, TheDublinerKC.com. The Irish-American pub offers a distinctly Irish feel and delicious pub fare. The downtown location is convenient off the streetcar.
Llywelyn's Pub Two Metro Locations: 6995 W. 151st St., Overland Park, KS, and 301 SE Douglas St., Lee's Summit, MO. Known for their authentic Celtic food and friendly neighborhood atmosphere, Llywelyn’s is an unforgettable experience. The Overland Park restaurant makes its home in a renovated 100-year-old church with live music on weekends. The Downtown Lee’s Summit location features a patio and lives music on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.
Paddy O'Quigley's 5317 W. 151st St., Leawood, KS, 913.601.3511. From Irish stew to fish 'n chips, all your favorite Irish dishes are on the menu at Paddy O'Quigley's. This neighborhood pub offers a fun atmosphere where they always root for the local teams. St. Paddy’s Day is their biggest celebration of the year.
O'Dowd's Little Dublin Country Club Plaza at 4742 Pennsylvania, Kansas City, MO, 816.561.2700, ODowdsLittleDublin.com. O'Dowd's Little Dublin is known for "the BEST American pub eats and Irish treats in Kansas City!" Enjoy fish and chips, Irish stew, corned beef, Reubens and shepherd's pie. O'Dowd's Little Dublin on the Plaza boasts an authentic Irish interior with imported woodwork, creating a pharmacy, library and cigar shop steeped in amazing Irish atmosphere.
O’Malley’s 1842 Irish Pub 500 Welt St., Weston, MO, 816.640.5235, WestonIrish.com. O’Malley’s serves authentic Irish fare in an authentic Irish-American pub, complete with Irish music. You can choose indoor or patio dining (where you see the famous world's largest ball of string). The menu includes salads, sandwiches, steaks, soups and, of course, fish and chips.
A Bit of Leprechaun Magic at Home:
With a bit of creativity, you can create the magic of leprechauns at home.
Follow the Rainbow: Create a trail of shamrocks or rainbows for the children to follow from their bedrooms to the breakfast table. Lead them to a breakfast of green scrambled eggs, green pancakes and green milk. A touch of food coloring will do the trick for each of these delicacies. A favorite in our family is toast with a “green message” (written with a food coloring marker available in the bakery aisle at the grocery store). At each place setting, leave a St. Patrick’s Day treat or small gift.
Leprechaun Loot: Using gold chocolate coins, Chuck E. Cheese tokens or gold dollar coins, host a hunt at your house to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. Top off the fun with a visit to Chuck E. Cheese or the Dollar Store where the kids can redeem their loot!
You’ve Been Pinched: Perhaps you’ve played “Ding Dong Ditch;” this game is similar. Prepare a treat for a neighbor (chocolate coins, cupcakes, baked goodies) and deliver them with a note: “You’ve Been Pinched! Whether you are wearing green or not, I’m here to tell you that you are liked a lot! Enjoy this treat, and here’s hoping you may, Have a Happy St. Patrick’s Day! Your Secret Leprechaun.” Leave the treat on the doorstep, ring the bell, then disappear, hiding where you can watch your friend claim the prize.