The First Annual Shockoe Bottom ‘Blarney Bash’ with beer, music, food and more

Blarney Bash is the new St. Patrick’s Day Festival in Shockoe Bottom

March 2, 2016; 11:53 AM • by Richard Hayes

Spring time is almost upon us, and the best way to kick it off is in the Bottom at the 1st Annual Shockoe Bottom ‘Blarney Bash’ on Saturday, March 12th, at the 17th Street Farmer’s Market!

(Rain date Sunday, March 13th!)

Join us for a fun-filled day steeped in Irish tradition within a family-friendly, neighborhood setting! The fun gets tapped at 11 AM and the festivities go until 5 PM.

We’ll have live music, including performances by ‘The Sutor Brothers’, ‘Cary Street Ramblers’ and ‘Roper & Furley’; also live Irish Dancing performances by The Baffa Academy of Irish Dance; and we’ll have performances by The Metro Richmond Police Emerald Society Pipes and Drums! We’ll be crowning a ‘Mr. and Miss St. Patrick’s Day’! And rumor has it – there may be an eating contest of some kind! How many Bangers and Mashed can you eat in 5 minutes?

And its fun for the whole family! We’ll have plenty of activities for the kids, including face painting and a free Bouncy House to risk life and limb in!

There will be tons of local dining and ‘adult beverage’ options as well – we’ll have catering at the festival provided by The Halligan Bar and Grill, Rare Old Times and many other delicious neighborhood favorites! There’s also many fabulous restaurants, pubs and bars in the neighborhood waiting to serve you both during the festival and afterwards such as Havana ’59, Rosie Connolly’s, Lulu’s, On The Rox, Station 2, River City Diner, Sweet Teas, Luncheonette, Margarita’s, McCormack’s Irish Pub, The Halligan Bar, La Bamba, Fallout and so many more!

So join us for a grand old time! The name may be new, but the tradition still stands all these years later – – when you think Irish Festivals in RVA, the best spot to be is the 17th Street Market!