Just by simply taking into account the number of festivals celebrating culture and heritage in Wheeling each year, it is clear that Wheeling residents are proud of where we come from! Traditions that have been passed down through generations have resulted in an incredible blend of events, food, festivities, and activities that celebrate and honor cultures from around the world—along with any Appalachian flair that has trickled through! One place that many Wheelingites consider to be their ancestral homeland is the Emerald Isle—Ireland! As we lead up to St. Patrick’s Day on Monday, March 17th, here is a thorough round-up of all of the wild and wonderful ways you can celebrate Ireland and Irish Celtic culture this year.
Local Events:
Art & Ale: Irish Beers, Food, Celtic Music at the Stifel Fine Arts Center (Friday 3/14 at 6:30 pm)
1330 National Road
“Irish beers, food, and Celtic music…find your “Kiss Me I’m Irish” t-shirt and come celebrate with the Irish and Irish-at-heart. Hang out in one of the coolest old mansions in Wheeling. Ample supplies of Irish beers are served along with Irish foods. The live Celtic music will knock the moss off your Blarney Stone!”
Tickets can be purchased here or by calling 304-242-7700.
Shamrock Showdown at Oglebay Resort (Friday 3/14 – Saturday 3/15)
465 Lodge Drive
“Get ready for an unforgettable weekend filled with authentic Celtic food, lively music, exciting contests, and traditional Irish road bowling. The fun continues with the Highland Games, featuring classic events that will keep you entertained all weekend long! Stay tuned for more details on this grand celebration of Celtic culture—you won’t want to miss it!”
Tickets can be purchased here.
“Dancing at Lughnasa” at Towngate Theater (Friday 3/14 – Saturday 3/22)
2118 Market Street
“Brian Friel’s award-winning play is an astonishing evocation of a family’s world on the brink of change. Set in County Donegal, Ireland in August 1936, the five unmarried Mundy sisters— Kate, Maggie, Agnes, Rose and Chris — battle poverty to raise seven-year-old Michael and care for their brother, ‘Uncle’ Jack. During the Celtic harvest festival of Lughnasa, Pagan and Christian meet and collide. The sisters fight each other, love each other, dance, yearn, and survive. A deeply moving portrait of their everyday lives, “Dancing at Lughnasa” is as a memory play framed by the narrator’s childhood recollection of the summer that changed the Mundy sisters’ lives forever.”
Shows take place March 14, 15, 16, 21, 22, 2025. Curtain is at 8pm Fridays and Saturdays. A 3pm matinee takes place Sunday, March 16.
Tickets can be purchased here or by calling 304-242-7700.
St. Patrick’s Day Open House at the WALS Foundation (Friday 3/14 at 5:00 pm)
1413 Eoff Street
“Libations, Appetizers, Irish Music by Black Slaney, Great Craic! Plus, the “Irishman of the Year.”! Ya’ll stop by.”
Wheeling’s Almost St. Patrick’s Day Pub Crawl (Saturday 3/15 from 4:00 -9:00 pm)
950 Main Street
“Get your shamrocks, green clothes, and pots of gold ready because the Almost St. Patrick’s Day Pub Crawl is coming to Downtown Wheeling . This themed event is going to be more than just a wee bit o’ fun! With green themed fun, contests, prizes, and some malarkey. Come as a single, a couple, or a group and join us for the best shenanigans you’ll find in Ohio County!”
Pub crawl stops include: Bridge Tavern (start here to check-in), Taqueria 304, Vagabond Kitchen, and Omega Cafe.
Tickets can be purchased here and will not be sold at the door.
Irish Pub Night at the Scottish Rite Cathedral (Saturday 3/15 at 6:00 pm)
83 14th Street
“Enjoy live music, great food and a cash bar in the Historic Scottish Rite Cathedral’s Bar Room. Bangers and mash! Irish desserts and more! Music by D & Paddy & Company (formerly of Gallowglass)”
Tickets can be purchased here.
St. Patrick’s Day Hockey Game at Wesbanco Arena (Saturday 3/15 at 7:10 pm)
2 14th Street
“Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with the Wheeling Nailers! Enjoy various drink specials, bid to take home one of our limited-edition specialty jerseys, and be the first at the door for a FREE St. Patrick’s Day hat!”
Tickets can be purchased here.
St. Patrick’s Day Party with Twice as Nice at Waterfront Hall (Saturday 3/15 at 8:00 pm)
1230 Water Street
“Our favorite (and Ohio Valley award-winning) trio takes the stage to celebrate St. Paddy’s day! We are ALL Irish on Saturday, March 15. Let’s dance, drink, and raise a toast to the health of our family and friends!”
St. Patrick’s Day Party at Alpha Tavern (Saturday 3/15 at 8:00 pm)
50 Carmel Rd
Get ready to sham-rock your night away with live music from Carly Greer & Jeff Tappe on Saturday, March 15th, from 8-11 PM! We’re bringing the luck of the Irish with green beer and Irish Car Bomb specials all night long! Don’t miss out on the best St. Paddy’s celebration in town—wear your green, bring your friends, and let’s party like the Irish!”
St. Patrick’s Day Party at The 19th Hole (Sunday 3/16 starting at noon)
780 National Rd
“Come for brunch and Stay for Sunday Funday. Live music all day: Kanawha 12-2 pm,
Rosie Gold Review 2:30-5:30 pm, Seven South 6-9 pm. Scotch Eggs and giveaways!”
Call to reserve a table: 304-232-9464
St. Patrick’s Day at the Bridge Tavern Featuring the Celtic Lads (Monday 3/17 at 3:00 pm)
950 Main St.
“Join us for our 6th annual St. Patrick’s Day celebrations at The Bridge! We will be opening for a special Monday celebration of one of our favorite holidays with a special All-Irish Food and Cocktail menu from 3-close, and live music from The Celtic Lads from 5 to close! We can’t wait to see you then!”
Lunch With Books: Ireland in Words & Music at the Ohio County Public Library (Tuesday 3/18, at 12:00 pm)
52 16th Street
“In celebration of Saint Patrick’s Day and Irish Heritage Month, internationally published writer from Huntington, Laura Treacy Bentley, will share poetry from her book, “Looking for Ireland: An Irish-Appalachian Pilgrimage,” while Pittsburgh-based violinist Charles May mixes in performances of Irish songs, many of which appear in his book, “Minced Gaelic: 101 Original Fiddle Tunes and Their Stories,” using his distinctive style: a fusion of classical and folk. The multimedia program will also feature photographs from Laura’s travels in Ireland, and a few special surprises.”
Fun Menu Items and Specialties:
Drink Specials at Mugshots
1109 Main St – Open M-F from 6:30 am to 5:00 pm and Sundays 10:00 am – 3:00 pm
Join Mugshots in celebrating the holiday with one of their fun, hand-crafted drinks, made specifically to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day! Their March Drink Specials list includes: an Irish Rose Latte, featuring irish cream and rose syrup; a Pot of Gold Tea Latte, a sweet Irish spin on a classic London Fog; an Irish Cream Cold Brew; and a Shamrock Matcha Frappe, a minty, vanilla, matcha blend!
Spring Drink Lineup at Table 304
1509 Main St – Open daily from 7:30 am to 3:00 pm (except Sundays)
Table304 has also released their Spring Specials, the greenest of which is a Lychee Matcha Latte with lychee syrup, matcha, and edible rose petals. Other fun spring treats include a Rose Cardamom Latte, a Lavender London Fog, and a Chocolate Cream Cold Brew.
Irish and Celtic Goods Available at Good Mansion
95 14th St – Sandwiches available 11:00 am to 2:00 pm
As they do most years, Good Mansion Wines is offering very Irish specials only on St. Patrick’s Day! Visit their cafe on Monday, March 17th to get a classic reuben sandwich, featuring pastrami, sauerkraut, comte, and thousand island dressing served on homemade marble rye sourdough from Alex’s Sourdough Shop.
Sláinte Wheeling!
It doesn’t matter if you consider yourself of Celtic origins or you’re just looking to join in on the festive season. From a themed bar crawl, to live music, to cultural performances that honor Irish heritage, events throughout the week will offer entertainment, community, and good, old-fashioned revelry. So dust off your greenest outfit and dive into the St. Patrick’s Day activities, we’ll see you there! Sláinte!
