This year it's less of a patriotic "parade" and more of a bar and pub crawl. In fact, a pub crawl is exactly what it is, with free admission to a bunch of bar parties and drink specials all over the place. All you need to do is to RSVP in advance to get a wristband, which will admit you gratis to the following festivities:
Kicking off at 5 p.m., Hennessey's Irish Tavern, Mickie Finnz, Brass the Lounge, & Las Vegas Country Saloon will all be hosting parties (usual cover $10, but free with a wristband). In addition, starting at 8 p.m. bands will play for free on the Main, 1st, and 3rd Street stages.
In addition to all the offerings at those parties, a number of downtown casinos are hosting gaming promotions, tournaments, free pie, green Jell-O-eating and leprechaun lookalike contests, and other such cultural pursuits, like drink specials: Golden Gate ($3 Greenaritas in a souvenir glass available at the Long Bar); Plaza/Vegas Club ($2 Apple Pucker shots, $2 Crown Royal shots, $2 beers, $2 Tommy Bahama Rum shots); Benny's Bullpen at Binion's and Chicago Brewing Company in the Four Queens (the crassly named Irish Car Bomb, which apparently comprises Stout beer, Irish whiskey & Irish cream for $4); the Fremont Street Experience bars at both properties will also be serving 50 oz. football green beer $6.50, while the Fitz will be offering $2 shots of Irish whiskey and a souvenir shot glass in the Vue Bar.
For information about all the other St Paddy's Day festivities around town, and for the details on how to sign up for your free wristband for the downtown shindig, you need look no further than our St Patrick's Day feature in Special Events, which is crammed full of such delights as bagpipers, corned beef and cabbage feasts, shamrock shots, leprechaun bingo, and, of course, lashings of green beer.
