Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in the “First City”

Get ready for a green wave on Friday, March 17: It’s the 40th anniversary of the Leavenworth St. Patrick’s Day Parade! The celebration starts promptly at noon, when the procession heads north from the intersection of 4th and Walnut Streets to loop through downtown.

If you’re looking for a good vantage point along the parade route – or, say, a green beer or two to enjoy while you watch – Leavenworth has you covered.

We’ve been looking forward to the grand opening of 11Worth Station BrewHouse (305 Cherokee St.), and they couldn’t have picked a better day to open their doors for the first time. The craft brewer’s St. Patrick’s Day bash starts at 11 a.m., so parade-goers can arrive early to grab a drink and a good seat by a window. (We want you to enjoy your pint of Enroute Irish Stout or Irish Red Caboose, but remember to keep it indoors and away from the parade, per police request.) Stick around to browse the BrewHouse’s collection of art and historic treasures, including extensive mural work by Creative Blossoming’s Meredith Thompson and reclaimed wood harvested from the former Skyway Lanes bowling alley. Next-door neighbor Celtic Holsters will be celebrating their 10th year of business that day, too, and plans to team up with the BrewHouse for a post-parade block party!

Willcott Brewing Company & Taproom (600 Cherokee St.) launched its Leavenworth location in January and soon announced their own St. Pat’s party, scheduled from 10 a.m. Friday to 1 a.m. Saturday. They also have a grand debut to announce: The opening of their outdoor patio space, with fire pits ready to chase away the March chill. On the other hand, you might want to park yourself in front of one of Willcott’s eight TVs that day, as March Madness is heating up; at least four men’s games are scheduled for March 17 (including No. 3 seed Kansas State), while the first round of the women’s tournament will begin that afternoon.

Also found along the parade route, Fatheads Irish Pub (327 Delaware St.) will open at 10 a.m. Friday and promises corned beef, cabbage and potatoes for patrons. You can also grab a few strings of green beads here to add to your holiday attire, and sneak in a quick game of pool or darts before the first floats pass down the street.

And don’t forget about another local favorite, Bailey’s Irish Pub (312 N. 2nd St.). They’re a few blocks off the parade route, but their doors will open at 8 a.m. Friday and their full breakfast menu will be available for order. St. Patrick’s Day temperatures will likely top out at around 40 degrees, so fill up on bangers and potatoes o’brien to keep you warm before heading outside and joining your fellow holiday revelers.

Click here for a fuller list of Leavenworth drinking establishments. Slainte!