St. Patrick’s Day Parade; Parade Day Celebrations at Mullaney’s and Thunderbird Café; Tyler the Creator at Pete (Sat., 3/12/22)

1) If your neighborhood seems a little quiet this morning, 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.

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.

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

A group of friends having fun at the 2019 St. Patrick’s Day Parade (photo: Rick Handler)

2) One of the most popular spots to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day and parade day is Mullaney’s Harp & Fiddle. 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 midnight. Mullaney’s will be featuring the top bands on the Pittsburgh Irish music scene including: Mark Guiser, Donnie Irish Band, Whiskey Limerick, Skipper O’ Johnson Band, Maddie Arnold & Friends, and Guaranteed Irish. The pub will open at 8 a.m. for breakfast and will be serving food all day long. 2329 Penn Ave., Strip District. (R.H.)

3) 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 a parade day party called Bastard Bearded Irishfest at the Thunderbird Café & Music Hall. Their latest album is 2018’s Drinkin’ to the Dead. The Bastard Bearded bill also includes Big Blitz; Fuck Yeah, Dinosaurs; Royal Honey; and Bob Banarjee. There will be rock on one stage and traditional Irish music on a second stage. Performances start at noon. 4053 Butler St., Lawrenceville. (C.M., R.H.)

4) Tyler, the Creator will perform at the Petersen Events Center. He is a member, if not the leader of, the hip hop collective Odd Future. He designs the group’s artwork and has created much of their merchandise. His solo albums, such as 2019’s Igor, oft receive critical acclaim even if his lyrics are sometimes criticized. He performed “911” on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.” Most recently he was a headlining act for last year’s Lollapalooza. Tyler, the Creator’s 2021 album, Call Me if You Get Lost, debuted at no. 1 on the Billboard 200. Also on the bill are Kali Uchis, Vince Staples, and Teezo Touchdown. 7 p.m. 3719 Terrace St., Oakland. (C.M., R.H.)

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