When you’re a kid, St. Patrick’s Day is the day where you wear green or get pinched. As we get older, St. Patty’s becomes a very drinking-centered celebration… Irish car bombs and green beer galore.
App State and Boone, however, don’t have a big festival for St. Patty’s, just some green beer at the local bars.
If you’re looking for alternative St. Patty’s plans, there is a major party in the south that garners national attention every year. The Columbia, SC St. Patty’s at Five Points, an event that brings in over 40,000 people, St. Patty’s at Five Points will be held on Saturday, March 14 this year.
Columbia, SC is a mere four hours from App State. Columbia is known as the home of USC and the Gamecocks, but they are also known for their downtown bar scene, “Five Points.”
Every year, Five Points places roadblocks to mark the ground for its St. Patty’s Celebration. The event runs from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. People of all ages may purchase tickets for access. Tickets are $15 and may be purchased online.
Tickets cover admission a variety of activities throughout the day. St. Patty’s is kicked off with a 10K/5K family run at 7:30 a.m.
The run is followed by a massive parade on Devine Street as well as a family fun area located at Martin Luther King Park, both starting at 10 a.m.
After all this, there’s Shaggin’on Santee at noon to celebrate South Carolina’s state dance.
From noon throughout the rest of the day there is live music and dub DJs. Wandering through Five Points will also bring you lines upon lines of food trucks, beer stands and green beer windows.
Local bars and restaurants are also open throughout the day to celebrate the arrival of spring and warmer (boiling hot by Boone standards) weather.
If you’re looking for a way to end your spring break with a bang, St. Patty’s is a short drive down south for a day that’s filled with St. Patrick’s activities all day long.
(photo from stpatscolumbia.com)