Tampa Mayor's River O'Green Fest Set For Saturday

TAMPA, FL — Tampa Bay area residents who didn’t get in enough celebrating on St. Patrick’s Day are invited downtown Saturday for the Mayor’s River O’Green Fest.

The City of Tampa’s annual St. Patrick’s Day celebration kicks off at 11 a.m., March 19 at Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park, 600 N. Ashley Drive. Featuring food, live entertainment and a Kelly green Hillsborough River, the event is one of several that helped catapult Tampa in a recent ranking of the best places in the country to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day.

Here are a few things to know before heading out to the festival:

Cost

The entire event is put on free of charge for visitors. Having money along for food, drinks and novelties, however, is a good idea.

Who Can Attend

The Mayor’s River O’Green Fest is open to anyone, including four-legged family members, the city says.

How To Get a T-Shirt for Free

Attendees can score their own “Saint Patrick’s Army” T-shirts by bringing three nonperishable food items to the event. The T-shirts, provided by the Salvation Army, will be available while supplies last. Do look for the donation tent onsite to drop off food items.

Irish Tastings

These restaurants plan to be on hand for the fest:

• Irish 31 Pub & Eatery
• Maloney’s Local Irish Pub
• James Joyce Irish Pub & Eatery
• Holy Hog Barbecue
• PJ Dolan’s Irish Pub
• Pokey’s LD
• Flambe
• Whatever Pops
• Renny’s Oki Doki
• Nico’s Arepas

Entertainment

The Krewe of Shamrock Stage will feature:

• Irish Buskers
• Paddy O’Furniture
• Scariff Hardiman School of Irish Dance

Kids’ crafts and entertainment are also being sponsored by:

• The City of Tampa’s Parks & Recreation Department
• Tampa Fire Rescue
• Tampa Bay Lightning
• Florida Aquarium
• Busch Gardens
• MOSI
• McDonald’s

Beer

JJ Taylor and Pepin Distribution are providing the beer. Sales proceeds will benefit the Tampa Downtown Partnership public space programs.

For more information, visit the city online.

Photo courtesy of the Tampa Police Department Facebook page

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