St. Patrick’s Day arrives on Tuesday, March 17, and you best be ready. Whether you truly are of Irish descent or just want to be Irish for the day, there’s plenty of activities and places to drop by to celebrate the popular holiday. While it’s now a nearly global celebration, it was first created to honor St. Patrick, an Ireland patron from the fifth century.
Several local bars and pubs are orchestrating various events and specials so put on your green attire, order some corned beef and cabbage, and a pint of Guinness along with the rest of the revelers come this St. Paddy’s Day.
According to Dan Lang, general manager at Hennessey’s Tavern in La Jolla, this is the biggest day of the year for the venue by far. Some of his favorite Irish sayings include: “Eirinn go Brach,” which translated in English is, “Ireland forever”; “slainte!,” which means “cheers!” or “cheers to your health”; and “ni neart go cur le cheile,” which means, “there is no strength without unity.” PACIFIC BEACH
– 710 Beach Club, 710 Garnet Ave., will hold its Shamrock Olympics, which includes beer pong, flip cup, quarters and more from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. There will be a Bikini Contest from 4 to 7 p.m. and then Karaoke from 7 to 9 p.m. A live concert with Paging the ’90s will finish the night from 9 p.m. to close. – Iron Pig Alehouse, 1520 Garnet Ave., is serving up quintessential Irish-American dishes for hungry St. Patrick’s Day celebrators from Saturday, March 14 and Tuesday, March 17. Guests can enjoy their popular-annual Corned Beef and Cabbage Sammies, Corned Beef Tacos, and Corned Beef Plates with boiled potatoes, carrots, and cabbage. Plus, those participating in the SD Leprechaun Run on Saturday can stop by for Corned Beef Breakfast Burritos afterward.
– Make sure to don your best green attire and head to Duck Dive, at 4650 Mission Blvd. The open-air beach bar will host a festive Taco Tuesday featuring $3 Green Beer and $3 Corned Beef and Hash Tacos, beginning at 5 p.m. If you’re looking to start the St. Patrick’s excitement early, head in for weekend brunch and enjoy Green Beer, a specialty Shamrock Shake, and Irish Breakfast Shots!
– Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with a twist at Pacific Beach Shore Club, at 4343 Ocean Boulevard. The beach bar will host Día de los Leprechauns, featuring festive food and drink specials. Fans of the signature Red Bull Slushie can enjoy themed Green Slushies alongside $5 Jameson and a specialty Lucky Charms White Russian. Make sure to feast on Corned Beef Tacos and Reuben Sandwiches, served all day. 
– Call it a lucky coincidence that St. Patrick’s Day lands on a Tuesday this year. Enjoy the best of both worlds with an Irish Taco Tuesday at Mavericks Beach Club, at 860 Garnet Ave. Join the fun beginning at 5 p.m. and indulge in a $10 All-You-Can-Eat Taco Bar, complete with specialty ‘Irish’ Tacos. Keep the party going with live music and drink specials!  
Nestled nicely alongside the vibrant ocean-front boardwalk in Pacific Beach, with a panoramic view that can’t be beaten, Waterbar will offer tacos, tapas, and tequila to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, SoCal-style! Enjoy 3 Street Tacos for $7.95 (Chicken, Fish or Beef Barbacoa), along with $7 Don Julio Blanco Margaritas. They will also offer draft specials that include: $4 Budweiser, $5 Pacifico and $5 Modelo.
– Bub’s at the Beach will pull out all the stops for St. Patrick’s Day with their Corned Beef and Cabbage Sandwich, paired with their signature Tots, and, of course, green beer. Green Margaritas and Saint Archer Gold Beer Buckets which include 5 beers for $20, will also be available.
– Situated mere steps from the Pacific, Pacific Beach AleHouse is the ideal beach-front location to enjoy a St. Patrick’s Day patio party! From 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., and for just $30 per person, indulge in all you can drink green beer and mimosas, along with a robust Irish buffet full of fan favorites.
– Build Your Own Taco Bar from 3-10 p.m at Backyard Kitchen and Tap, in honor of such a joyous occasion! In addition, patrons can also enjoy $5 green beer, select Irish food specials, and multiple DJs, to help keep the shamrock shenanigans going! It ain’t over til its clover! LA JOLLA
In La Jolla, one of the most popular places to enjoy St. Patrick’s Day is at Hennessey’s Tavern, located at 7811 Herschel Ave. The venue has been serving up Irish hospitality since 1976 and will do the same on St. Paddy’s Day. You can order a St. Patrick’s Day 2020 men’s or women’s T-shirt before they are history for $18 plus tax and shipping, too. Stop by for Irish nachos, a Dublin burger, as well as Irish whiskey, Irish coffee, beers and more. The location will be offering traditional Irish fare including shepherd’s pie, fish ’n chips, Irish stew, corned beef and cabbage dinners, corned beef and Reuben sandwiches in addition to its regular menu. It will also be offering “buy-one, get-one-free hamburgers” including the special burger of the month, The Irishman. GASLAMP DISTRICT
– The Gaslamp District has numerous Irish pubs where you can pub hop from one to another including Patrick’s Gaslamp Pub at 428 F St. The rocking pub has live music and has been in the same historic location since 1933. – The Field Irish Pub at 544 Fifth Ave. offers traditional Irish pub grub and pints from 11-2 a.m. The staff invites all to enjoy a pint on its “favorite holiday,” which of course is St. Patrick’s Day.
– The Dubliner at 554 Fourth Ave. is a traditional hangout where St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated with Irish and American “pub grub, live music, and sports on TV plus local and imported brews.” LA MESA
After you have had your share of Gaslamp District pubs, head to Hooleys Public House with locations in El Cajon and La Mesa at 500 Grossmont Center Drive, No. 247.
Both pubs showcase “authentic decor from Ireland, including polished brass whiskey stills and old church pews that have been repurposed to create the bar.” On St. Patrick’s Day, join the team for a pint and St. Patrick’s Day celebrations. Enjoy live music at both pubs starting at 3 p.m.
Have fun, be safe and enjoy the many St. Patrick’s Day happenings!