Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
Céad Míle Fáilte! It’s officially St. Patrick’s Day, or as it’s known to many Americans, “I Can’t Remember Which Way to Face This Claddagh Ring Day.” Grab your green clothing and pour yourself a pint of Guinness for breakfast!
Feel free to blast The Dubliners all day at work and yell “no, nay, never” at anyone who asks you to turn it down.
The History of St. Patrick’s Day
St. Patrick, Ireland’s patron saint, was born Maewyn around 385 AD in Roman Britain—not Ireland. Kidnapped at 16, he spent six years enslaved as a shepherd there. He escaped, trained as a priest and bishop, then returned to Ireland around 432 AD to spread Christianity.
He died March 17, 461 AD. His feast day emerged in Ireland by the 9th–10th centuries and became an official Christian observance in the early 17th century.
The modern celebration—green clothing, shamrocks, parades—took shape in America through Irish immigrants. The first recorded parade happened in Boston in 1737, followed by New York in 1762. Green (originally associated with blue) became linked to the shamrock legend in the 18th century.
Today St. Patrick’s Day blends religious roots in Ireland with a global cultural festival celebrating Irish heritage. ☘️
Upcoming Events:
Come visit us at the Greer Goes Global International Festival on Saturday, April 25, 2026, from 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM at Greer City Park. This free community event celebrates diverse Upstate cultures with food, music, dance performances, and more. Stop by the Greenville St. Patrick’s Day Committee tent to shop merchandise and chat with us.
Get ready for mid-September Irish vibes! The Greenville St. Patrick’s Day Committee hosts two fun events to celebrate halfway to St. Patrick’s Day.
Champions on the Green — the 5th Annual Halfway to St. Patrick’s Day Golf Outing — hits the links on September 14, 2026, with an 8:00 AM shotgun start. Lunch and raffle follow. This year at Greer Golf for a fresh twist.
Inaugural Halfway to St. Patrick’s Day 0.1K Beer Run on September 19 @ Connolly’s Irish Pub — the shortest “race” ever at just 328ft, paired with beer, music and fun.
For registration, details, and more, visit our website:
https://www.gvlstpatricks.com/golf
https://www.gvlstpatricks.com/beerrun
Wear green, swing clubs, sprint (barely), and toast the luck of the Irish as we head into Winter, looking forward to Spring! ☘️
Sláinte!
Greenville St. Patrick’s Day Committee
Thank You from the Greenville St. Patrick’s Day Committee
What an incredible St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Festival, we couldn’t have asked for better weather to enjoy it. We set a new record and welcomed our biggest crowd yet!
A big thank you to St Baldrick’s and to those who shaved their heads for the Cause!
Huge thanks to our bands:
• Randomonium
• Drop O’ The Pure
• John Carroll
• Simple Syrup
Your contributions made the celebration unforgettable!
Special gratitude to every parade marcher, volunteer and vendor—your hard work and dedication turned the day into a massive success.
Also a giant thank you to our generous sponsors:
• Prisma Health – for the stage sponsorship, as well as supporting community health and wellness.
• Crisp Rentals – for providing the VIP tent, top-notch equipment and service.
• Clearview Mortgage – for helping make dreams reality with expert home financing.
Your partnership helped make this year’s event our best yet.
From everyone on the committee: Thank you, Greenville! See you next year!
Sláinte!
Greenville St. Patrick’s Day Committee
Happy Irish-American Heritage Month!
March is Irish American Heritage Month, honoring the contributions of Irish immigrants and their descendants to our nation and community. 🇮🇪🇺🇸
The Greenville St. Patrick’s Day Committee proudly continues this tradition with our annual Parade and Festival.
Join us Saturday, March 14th: Parade kicks off at 10:00 AM from Fluor Field, marching down Main Street to NOMA Square. Festival follows immediately with live music, food, vendors, kids’ area, and more until 8:00 PM.
Parade route and festival layout now live on our website: https://www.gvlstpatricks.com/
Come celebrate Irish spirit with us—everyone welcome! ☘️
The 2026 Festival Lineup Has Arrived
We have released our 2026 stage lineup, featuring a dynamic mix of Irish traditional music and local favorites set to energize NOMA Square! Get ready for an unforgettable celebration of Irish heritage in downtown Greenville!
Happy Holidays from the Greenville St. Patrick’s Day Committee!
As 2025 comes to a close, the St. Patrick’s Day Committee wishes you and yours a joyful holiday season filled with warmth, good cheer, and maybe a pint or two!
While we dream of green in March, here are beloved Irish Christmas & New Year traditions we cherish:
• The Christmas Swim: Brave souls dash into the icy Atlantic on Christmas morning (Forty Foot in Dublin is legendary!). On a more local note: Dunleavy’s Pub on Sullivan’s Island in Charleston, SC hosts a Polar Plunge each year on New Year’s Day to fundraise for The Special Olympics! Learn More…
• Wren Day (St. Stephen's Day, Dec 26): Lá an Dreoilín – musicians parade with a fake wren on a holly bush, singing and collecting for charity.
• Nollaig na mBan (Women’s Christmas, Jan 6): Men take over housework while women celebrate with tea, cake, and friends.
We’re already deep in planning for an even bigger and greener parade and festival, March 14, 2026 at NOMA Square. Expect exciting announcements in the coming weeks – our newest committee members, parade route, and the latest festival lineup.
Until then, raise a glass to health, happiness, and the wearing o’ the green!
Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and see you in the new year!
Sláinte!
Greenville St. Patrick’s Day Committee
Greenville St. Patrick’s Day Committee Blog: Kickoff Post
Charity, Community and Irish Heritage
Welcome to the official Greenville St. Patrick’s Day Committee blog! We’re thrilled to launch this space to share all things green, festive, and Irish as we gear up for March. Our committee is hard at work planning Greenville’s Annual St. Patrick’s Day celebration, and this blog will keep you in the loop with event updates, cultural tidbits, and more.
Expect to find:
• Event Details: Parade routes, festival schedule, and ticket info.
• Irish Culture: Fun facts about St. Patrick’s Day and local Irish heritage.
• Behind the Scenes: Meet our committee members and volunteers.
• Community Spotlight: Stories from local businesses and participants.
Mark your calendars for our upcoming parade and festival on March 14, 2026! Stay tuned for future posts with exciting news and the full event lineup. Follow us on our socials for real-time updates, and let’s make this St. Patrick’s Day the best yet!
Sláinte!
Greenville St Patrick’s Day Committee