How to Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in San Antonio – 7 Ways!

By Sara Branstetter | March 6, 2025

If you’re itching to get your party on, hang tight, because April is almost here and along with it, Fiesta San Antonio. Thankfully, a short but festive holiday occurs in March which can be considered the opening act for San Antonio’s massive Fiesta party – St. Patrick’s Day. While you may not exactly think of SA as the best place to honor and celebrate the patron saint of Ireland (and engineers and migrants), the city offers some fantastic, free ways to ring in the holiday. So, pour yourself a pint of Guinness and check out 7 ways you can celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in San Antonio!

For a complete list of activities and times, check out the San Antonio Riverwalk’s St. Patrick’s Day events page. Given that St. Patrick’s Day in on a Monday this year, you can plan to celebrate the weekend before with most events taking place on Saturday, March 15 and Sunday, March 16.

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We’re Kelsey and Sara, two local foodies with a combined 29 years of eating in San Antonio, two travel books, and millions of blog readers. We adore local spots, rarely visit chain restaurants, and we aren't afraid to tell you the truth. After spending thousands of our own $$$ at hundreds of local hot spots, we're sharing the best with you.

St. Patrick's Day in San Antonio

The Riverwalk Goes Green

Patrick’s Day in San Antonio is all about the green! Each year, 25 gallons of eco-friendly dye are dumped into the San Antonio river giving turning it from brown and murky to a cheerful green hue. To watch the river dyeing, make your way to Museum Reach on Saturday, March 15^th from 11am-12pm or downtown from 1pm-3pm. Dye will also be added downtown on Sunday, March 16^th from 1pm-3pm.

Festival in La Villita

Head out to La Villita for the Harp and Shamrock Society’s Passport to Ireland Family friendly activities, live music, shopping, and festive foods are all on the menu. Admission is free.

River Parades

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Not one, but two St. Paddy’s Day river parades will be held downtown on Saturday, March 15. The first parade will be held from 2pm-3pm at Museum Reach and the second will be downtown from 5:30pm-6:30pm. Then on Sunday, while not a traditional parade, “floating entertainment” will take place throughout the day with loads of traditional Irish merriment including the echoing sounds of the class bag pipes.

Shows at the Arneson River Theater

The Arneson River Theater, a gorgeous outdoor theater along the banks of the San Antonio river will be showcasing a number of St. Patrick’s Day performances including Irish dancing and singing, games, the Lucky Dog fashion show, and the 2025 Riverwalk Royalty coronation. For a list of times and events, please see the Riverwalk’s events page.

Emerald Run 5K

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Another fun way to enjoy St. Patrick’s Day in San Antonio doesn’t involve beer or heavy food! Runners can enjoy some holiday Riverwalk time by taking part in the annual St. Patrick’s Day 5K along the San Antonio river. The race will be held on Saturday, March 15 and prizes will go to the best costumes and green gear.

For more info, head the race signup page.

Lucky’s St. Patrick’s Day Bar Crawl

While a number of local businesses are organizing pub crawls, the Lucky’s St. Patrick’s Day Bar Crawl is bound to be the biggest and rowdiest. Tickets are just $10, and the event will take you through a number of bars and eateries where you can celebrate with Irish food, and cold pints.

Individual Restaurant and Bar Celebrations

If the official St. Patrick’s Day in San Antonio celebrations aren’t doing it for you, but you are still interested in donning your green and partying with your friends, head to the website of your favorite restaurant or bar. Many will offer smaller celebrations that include food and drink specials. A few of our favorite bars and restaurants that will be ringing in the holiday are Elsewhere, the Liberty Bar, and Künstler Brewing.