I’ve been spending much of this week outside enjoying the suddenly beautiful, sunny weather in Northern Nevada. To me it’s starting to feel like summer is rolling around early, that this spring will be extra warm to make up for an extremely snowy and blustery winter. I do appreciate our seasons here in Carson City, but some sun feels well deserved!
Capping off these gorgeous days is St. Patrick’s Day, landing perfectly on a Friday this year. As a man of Irish descent m’self, I have some fun taking pride in the holiday, wearing a splash of green and heading out on the town. And you know that with St. Patrick’s Day ‘17 kicking off the weekend, it’s going to be a holiday to remember — or forget, depending on what you do!
Here are some suggestions for making the most of St. Patrick’s Day in Carson City. If you’re new to Nevada’s capital, you might be surprised to find so many pubs and bars waiting just around the corner and full of locals having the time of their lives. These events are Carson City at its liveliest, so take full advantage of St. Patrick’s Day excitement have an amazing weekend!
Keep a taxi or an Uber on hand or have a designated driver as you enjoy this tour of the town’s holiday events, featuring places both historic and brand new. Happy St. Patrick’s Day, and happy and safe adventuring!
Paintings and Parties
Ease into Friday’s festivities at Mona Lisa & Wine, the paint-and-sip bar in South Carson City by Buffalo Wild Wings. Friday, March 17's class includes a guided painting of a planted pot of four leaf clovers — perhaps a little good luck charm as you start the weekend. It’s a relaxing way to spend the early evening with a glass of wine, a cocktail or the first beer of the night as you bring out your inner artist and leave with a memorable souvenir. The class costs $30 and runs from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.
Or jump right in to the St. Patrick’s Day excitement with dinner at Living the Good Life. The bistro and lounge is serving up an Irish special of corned beef and cabbage as well as drink specials. There will be live music from local musicians Joe LaChew and Martina Dayton, then DJ Bebop gets the Green Party started. Gather your friends, take a shot of some Irish whiskey and start dancing! Don’t forget to wear the lucky color.
Get Lucky at Carson Pubs
It might just be that you spent all of Friday night with green in your eyes, dancing and partying until the wee hours of the morning. Not to worry — these pubs are keeping the party going all weekend. Have some great brews at the following bars and celebrate.
The Feisty Goat Pub is a wildly fun and hip bar. It’s the perfect place to start the evening with a cold pint of one of its many beers on draft, or maybe a whiskey drink and a conversation with friends. Locals love the place, and its eclectic, even quirky atmosphere cuts the tension and makes a bar full of strangers a night of new friends.
From the Feisty Goat, head over to Carson City’s newest bar and brewpub, the Shoe Tree Brewing Company. When I say new, I mean it opened just last week! If drinking beer is your St. Patrick’s Day activity of choice, Shoe Tree is the place to be. Brewing in-house almost 10 styles of cream ale, IPA, wheat beer and even cold-brew coffee, Shoe Tree is a great hangout. I recommend getting a flight of each and every brew and having your own sampler, or just head straight for the Bavarian Honey Wheat Ale.
Circle back to Downtown Carson City and have your last couple of beers at The Fox pub. You might just trick yourself into thinking you're celebrating the holiday at an old pub somewhere in Britain and not at the historic St. Charles Hotel. Either way, here’s your chance to get a Guinness on tap (the best way it can be enjoyed) and fill up on some Irish Nachos (waffle-cut fries with cheese, bacon bits and sour cream). It’s a fitting and delicious way to ring in the Irish New Year (that’s what we’re celebrating, right?).
Even the Library is Carding
If all of this sounds like a nasty morning headache and too much green, there’s an affordable alternative to enjoying St. Patrick’s Day without it being too much of a drunken bash. Check out the Carson City Library’s St. Patrick’s Day Trivia Night, sponsored by the Carson Sunset Rotary Club. The evening will be at a bit more of a slower pace but will offer plenty of alcoholic drinks and yummy snacks for purchase as you test your knowledge. Turn the holiday into a casual competition, make some friends and win some prizes while you’re at it. The event is for ages 21 and older and is from 6 to 7 p.m. on Friday.
It’s gearing up to be quite the weekend here in Carson City, so get out there, have a few drinks, let loose and may the luck of the Irish be on your side! And for more fun this week, check out our list of Daytime, Nightlife and Community events.
About the Author Bryan Akerley
Bryan was born and raised in Northern Nevada and is a graduate of the University of Nevada, Reno. When he’s not writing, he’s keeping up with pop culture as a lover of movies, TV, music and books or out exploring the area through its restaurants, bars and nightlife. Then he’ll unwind by playing the drums or piano or spending time with his corgi, Teddy. 
