St. Patrick’s Day Parade Day Festivities; Lamp Hosts Artimus Pyle Band; Rakim at City Winery (Sat., 3/14/26)

1) If your neighborhood seems a little quiet the morning of March 14, it may be because over 200,000 Pittsburghers and visitors are downtown for The St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Having begun as early as 1869 and billed as one of the oldest and largest St. Patrick’s Day parades in the country, it includes bands, Irish organizations, Miss Smiling Irish Eyes, and just about every politician in Allegheny County. The 2025 Grand Marshal is Patrick J. Byrne, and Miss Smiling Irish Eyes is Molly McKenna. Members of the Queen’s court are Kennedy Ayrn Elizabeth Kuntz and Sidney Ann Hoover.

Each year brings something slightly different, although who could forget the 1993 parade? It continued despite a blizzard, the worst that the city had seen in over 100 years. (Hopefully no snow this year.) 

The parade begins at the intersection of Liberty Avenue and 11th Street, proceeds to Grant Street, and turns right onto the Boulevard of the Allies. Then it marches down the Boulevard to the parade reviewing stand at Stanwix Street and ends at Commonwealth Place.

And if you want to get a workout in before partaking in the festivities, the successful Parade Day Dash continues again this year. The two races kick off right before the parade. One is a 5K and the other is a 1-Mile Family Fun Run/Walk

Remember, anyone who wants to be Irish—is Irish—on St. Paddy’s Day! Parade starts at 10 a.m. Downtown. (R.H.)

Parade Day Bar Happenings

2) As if there’s not already enough happening on a normal Saturday on the South Side, there is the Shamrock Crawl. Here’s the deal: buy a ticket ($15 prior to Saturday, $40 on game day), and you will get reduced prices on drinks, a special Shamrock mug, cover-free access to some of South Side’s best bars, food specials, raffle entry for prizes, and free pictures of the event. 2 – 10 p.m. For participating bars, tickets, and more information visit the Shamrock Crawl website. (R.H.)

The day and eve of the St. Patrick’s Day Parade make a good time to have a taste of Ireland’s native waters. (Guinness, Harp, and Murphy’s brews are some good ones as are Tullamore D.E.W. and Jameson Irish whiskies.) Have an old Irish toast, such as “May you be in heaven a full half hour before the devil knows you’re dead,” in any of several happenin’ Irish pubs including Mullaney’s Harp & Fiddle, Murphy’s Taproom, McFadden’s, and Kelly’s Bar Lounge . Unfortunately Reilly’s Pour House had a bad fire that it’s still recovering from, but promises to reopen down the road a piece. For those who don’t imbibe or are designated drivers (thank you!), enjoy a McDonald’s Shamrock Shake, a Wendy’s Girl Scouts Thin Mints Vanilla Frosty a soft drink, or a cup o’ hot tea. (R.H.)

3) One of the most popular spots to celebrate the St. Patrick’s Day Parade Day is Mullaney’s Harp & Fiddle. The pub will open at 8 a.m. and serve a parade day breakfast. With a tent connected to the pub, the celebration space is doubled. Irish bands and performers hold court all day and night in both spaces beginning at noon and going until about 1 a.m. Mullaney’s will be featuring the top bands on the Pittsburgh Irish music scene including: in the outside tent, Donnie Irish Band, Tully Cavy, and Jim Lamb; Inside are Mark Guiser, Devil Take the Women, and Brian & Andy. Mullaney’s will also feature a big party on the actual St. Patrick’s Day, March 17, with the tent remaining and live music in both spaces. Several of the same bands will be reprising their performances. 2329 Penn Ave., Strip District. (R.H.)

4) Think traditional Celtic music but with some extra beats per minute—that’s Bastard Bearded Irishmen. The local group is helping Pittsburgh usher in St. Patrick’s Day with its annual Bastard Bearded Irishmen Fest at Thunderbird Cafe and Music Hall (6 p.m.). Also on the bill is Mallory Run, Massive Hotdog Recall, Wired Tae and The Moon, and The Sweaty Already String Band on the Front Porch Stage. Additionally you can catch the Bastards at the Hollywood Casino at The Meadows (Friday, March 13, 8 p.m.). (C.M., R.H.)

The beer is super fresh at Pittsburgh Brewing’s Irish City St. Patrick’s Day Celebration.

5) Pittsburgh Brewing Company is hosting its Irish City St. Patrick’s Day Celebration at their brewery in Creighton. Attractions include Kegs and Eggs (8-10 a.m.), general admission tickets are $15 and include a free green beer, a visit from a leprechaun, local bands, food trucks, cigar bar, firepits, yard games, photo booths, a golf simulator, karaoke, and tattoo artists. VIP admission includes breakfast. 150 Ferry St. (R.H.)

6) Artimus Pyle was not the original drummer for the legendary group Lynyrd Skynyrd, that would be Bob Burns, but if Burns supplied the powerful beats to help propel the band to the top of the charts, Pyle helped take them even higher. When Pyle joined Skynyrd in 1975 the two even played drums alongside one another with the band, with Pyle eventually replacing Burns. He survived the infamous plane crash that killed bandmates Ronnie Van Zant and Steve and Cassie Gaines, stumbling to a farmhouse to get help. Pyle joined the reunited Skynyrd, but departed in 1991, after not agreeing with the continuing illicit lifestyle of the band. Having studied religion and spirituality in Israel he started on his solo career. They would reunite a few times after the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremonies. Supposedly Pyle and his band play Lynyrd Skynyrd songs note for note like they were done in the original incarnation of the band. Former Skynyrd lead guitarist, the late Ed King, helped the band with the original arrangements. 8 p.m. The Lamp Theatre, 222 Main St. Irwin. (R.H.)

7) To whom shall we compare Rakim? Maybe to a legendary poet like … Gerard Manley Hopkins? Sure, let’s do it. Back in the late 1800s, Hopkins revolutionized English poetry with numbers like “As Kingfishers Catch Fire.” His free-rolling “sprung rhythms” defied standard meter, and his language never strained for high drama but somehow packed a cosmic punch. Dance ahead to the 1980s, and along came Rakim with rap that reimagined what rap could be. He defied singsong rhythms in favor of a natural “flow,” rich in internal rhyme, and never attacked the mic feverishly but rather laid out his words with a precise, straight-ahead punch. Rakim (born William Michael Griffin Jr.) made waves initially as part of a duo with DJ Eric B. The track above is from their landmark 1987 album Paid in Full. Since the early ‘90s, Rakim has continued innovating solo and in various collaborations. Beyond the scratching and sampling that a DJ can provide, Rakim has even rapped to the silky strains of symphony instruments, as in a memorable NPR Tiny Desk Concert. He calls himself The God Rakim not from arrogance, but from a spiritual belief that God is manifest in every man. Now touring in support of his new vinyl release The Re-Up, Rakim will rap in intimate splendor at City Winery in a show that’s officially sold out. 7:30 p.m. 1627 Smallman St., Strip District. (M.V.) 

Share on Social Media