Irish Dancing, Restaurant Specials: St. Patrick's Day Events Around Falls Church

FALLS CHURCH, VA — St. Patrick’s Day is on a Friday this year, and local restaurants and bars will be swimming in Kelly green. There will be plenty of ways to celebrate Irish culture and heritage, so dress in your best green attire and head out to celebrate at Falls Church's small businesses.

There's good news for Catholics who abstain from eating meat on Fridays during Lent but want to enjoy some corned beef and cabbage. In Northern Virginia, Bishop Michael F. Burbage of the Catholic Diocese of Arlington is granting dispensation from the abstinence from meat on March 17 this year. This extends to any Catholics who are in the diocese during St. Patrick's Day.

"Those taking advantage of this dispensation, however, are exhorted to undertake a work of charity, an exercise of piety, or an act of comparable penance on some other occasion during the Third Week of Lent," according to the diocese website.

For those seeking a safe ride home from St. Patrick's Day festivities, the Washington Regional Alcohol Program's 2023 St. Patrick’s SoberRide program is planned between 4 p.m. Friday, March 17 and 4 a.m. on Saturday, March 18. Because the holiday is considered a high-risk time for intoxicated driving, the program will offer a Lyft ride up to $15.

Below are restaurant specials and events happening in and around Falls Church. If you know of other specials, leave a comment below or send an email to Emily.Leayman@patch.com.

Ireland's Four Provinces St. Patrick's Day: Friday, March 17

Enjoy K'eggs" breakfast fare from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m., three-course lunch and dinner seatings, live music in the dining room and on the patio, and an Irish favorites menu all day. Reservations are recommended.

St. Patrick's Day Party at VFW Post 9274: Friday, March 17, 5 p.m.

Enjoy $10 plates of corned beef and cabbage, jello shots and a 50/50 raffle at this event.

March Madness & St. Patrick's Day at Settle Down Easy Brewing: Thursday, March 16 and Friday, March 17

Watch March Madness games with beer and food specials.

Skinny Wallace at JV's Restaurant: Friday, March 17, 8:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m.

Enjoy live music from Skinny Wallace in kilts for St. Patrick's Day along with beer and food.

St. Patrick's Day Weekend at O'Sullivan's Irish Pub: Friday, March 17 and Saturday, March 18, 10 a.m. to 2 a.m.

Watch Irish dancers from Boyle School of Irish Dance, live music, and the March 18 Ireland vs. England rugby match.

Celtic House Irish Pub & Restaurant St. Patrick's Day: Through Sunday, March 19

Enjoy live music through March 16, then St. Patrick's Day on March 17 will begin with a full Irish breakfast starting at 9 a.m. From 11 a.m. to closing, feast on the St. Patrick's Day traditional menu, enjoy live music starting at 5 p.m. and watch O'Neill James School of Irish Dance during dinner. Live music and Irish dance continue Saturday, and live music is also planned Sunday.

St. Patty's Day Happy Hour at Bar Bao: Thursday, March 16, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Join the Savygents at Bar Bao for a happy hour with drink specials, live music, a raffle, green outfits, comedians and more.

St. Patricks Day at Shipgarten: Friday, March 17, 1 p.m. to 10 p.m.

St. Patrick's Day kicks off a three-day event at Shipgarten. Come for free green swag for the first 50 people, live music, St. Paddy’s Day menu with Irish favorite dishes and drinks, green eggs and green beer special, games, leprechauns for photo opps, and a whiskey pop-up experience.

The Union Ballston's St.Patrick's Day Specials: Friday, March 17

Wear green for 50 percent off small plates until 8 p.m. or 50 percent off drinks from 8 p.m. to closing.

Irish Madness Fest at Clarendon Ballroom: Friday, March 17 and Saturday, March 18

This all-day event features NCAA March Madness games as well as bands, DJs, drink specials, giveaways, a full buffet, green beer specials, games, best dressed prizes, and more. The main floor and rooftop will show games and host St. Patrick's Day festivities.

St. Patrick's Day at WHINO: Friday, March 17

A DJ will be spinning for St. Patrick's Day.

Sham’rock’ St. Patrick’s Weekend at Punch Bowl Social Arlington: Friday, March 17 and Saturday, March 18

Come for $7 beer and shot specials, a live DJ and Paddy’s Irish Whiskey cocktails.

Limousine Leprechaun St Patrick's Scavenger Hunt and Race: Saturday, March 18, 6:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.

This scavenger hunt challenges participants to race around DC to search for "Leprechaun's gold." Participants will meet at Panera outside the Rosslyn Metro Station.

ShamRock n' Roll at The Lot: Saturday, March 25, 2 p.m. to 10 p.m.

This St Paddy’s Day party will have multiple bars, all-day drink specials, yard games, tiki bar, food trucks, and an adult sandpit.