St. Patrick’s Day in Ocean City, MD is not an event that is taken lightly by locals and visitors! Our beach town is the pot of gold at the end of your St. Paddy's Day rainbow as you enjoy activities like parading in green and pub-hopping with lucky drink specials. Grab your fellow leprechaun enthusiasts and prepare for the upcoming annual celebrations! 

You know that Explore OC will be on the scene and capturing the fun happening around town. Stay tuned for the Explore Experience to check out event photos and a recap in case you missed it!

Celebrating St. Patrick's Day in OCMD

St. Patrick’s Day 5k
Start your day of celebration in Ocean City with the annual Boardwalk 5k on March 16th! Whether you’re an experienced runner, or just there to enjoy the ocean breeze, jogging on the iconic Boardwalk is where you want to be. Show your Irish pride in your favorite green outfit and be there at 9 AM next to Shenanigan’s Irish Pub on 4th Street and the Boardwalk.

OC St. Patrick’s Day Parade
This is undoubtedly one of the most exciting events in Ocean City, MD with a sea of green lining the streets from 60th to 45th. The parade starts promptly at noon on March 16th and will feature tons of your favorite local businesses and friends on their decked-out floats, plus marching bands, bagpipes, and so much more. 

St. Patrick's Day Bar Crawl
You know that St. Paddy’s Day celebrations are not complete without a pint of beer—or three! Ocean City’s favorite Irish pub, Shenanigan’s will be open for the 5k and the parade to enjoy traditional Irish food and all of the festive drinks you could ask for. And Shenanigans isn't the only local bar participating. Grab drinks near the parade route at local establishments like 45th St. Taphouse or stay by the Boardwalk and visit iconic bars like the Purple Moose Saloon, Cork Bar, Pickles Pub, and even Wild Bills which only opens a few times a year!

If you’re spending the weekend celebrating, make sure to have fun and be safe. Check back after the events to see how Explore OC enjoyed St. Patrick's Day and visit our Facebook and Instagram for more detailed posts!

Explore Experience

This past weekend’s St. Patrick’s Day festivities were one for the books! For the first year in what feels like too long of a time, the weather was beautiful and sunny for the 5k, the parade, and of course, bar crawling. It was a blast to see so many businesses back open and celebrating.

As Seacret’s refers to St. Patrick’s Day—the Local’s New Year has started and the season has begun. In years past restaurants were packed to the brim with people trying to escape the cold but this year, everyone could enjoy the beautiful weather with outdoor seating at Fish Tales, M.R. Ducks, 45th Street Taphouse, etc., with a Guinness in hand. 

Let’s start from the beginning. The 5k was a huge hit, with nearly 1,000 people signed up and ready to run the Boardwalk. Shenanigans remained a central spot for runners and spectators to get a bite to eat, grab a drink, and listen to live music and performances from the bagpipers. 

After the race, the parade began from 60th Street to 45th Street where Taphouse had festivities in their parking lot: a stage for Irish dancers & live entertainment, beer vendors, merch, and more. With so many participants in the parade, it lasted around 2 hours. Even if you weren’t watching the parade in person, many businesses around town, like The Other One Brewing Company, had the parade televised. 

Some highlights from the parade included:

• Lots of dogs dressed in their St. Paddy’s Day best.
• Zoom Car Wash spraying bubbles through the crowds.
• Decked-out monster trucks!
• The float of hope in support of pediatric cancer.
• Jolly Roger Amusement Parks with an impressive float, a giant pot of gold, and decorated go-karts trailing behind.
• Ocean City Surf Club celebrating its 10-year anniversary.
• Local marching bands & cheerleaders.
• And so many more!

Big thank you to the Delmarva Irish-American Club for another successful St. Patrick’s Day parade. See more glimpses from the weekend on Explore OC’s Facebook and Instagram!