St Patrick’s Day in Australia - what to see and do

St Patrick’s Day is celebrated enthusiastically in Australia as the  Irish and their Australian friends celebrate the Irish culture and their patron  saint St Patrick. St Patrick is Ireland’s patron saint who died on March 17 around 493AD. St Patrick was a missionary in Ireland and it is believed that he banished “snakes” from the country.

The Irish were some of the earliest Europeans to settle in Australia. Many were convicts but in the years that followed so many Irish migrated that it is believed almost a third of Australians have some Irish ancestry. Many pubs and restaurants around Australia hold St Patrick’s Day  events where patrons can enjoy Irish music and where sometimes green drinks are served. St Patrick Day parades are also popular and you will see traditional Irish costumes and people dressed in green or pretending to be leprechauns. Green is a colour associated with Ireland as is the shamrock leaf and the harp. There will be plenty of these symbols around as well as the Irish flag with its colours of green, white and orange.

In Sydney  on Sunday 17 March 2013 from 10.15am - 11.45am  there is pre-parade entertainment on George St followed by the parade itself which starts at the corner of Bathurst and George St. From 1pm there is a family day in the Hyde Park including food, entertainment, children’s activities, rides, petting zoo, face painting and of course lots of music!  See http://www.stpatricksday.org.au/

In Melbourne  revelers can use the Guinness St Patrick’s Day Black list to help them and this can be found at www.guinness.com.au

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In Perth  the City of Vincent have a free community event will combine a St Patrick's Day Parade and a Family Fun Day starting with St Patrick's Day Parade at 10am on the corner of Richmond and Loftus Streets. It will then meander through the streets finishing Leederville Oval, to join the Family Fun Day  which offers live music, bands and dancing on the main stage, plus displays, food, drinks, market style stalls and lots of excitement!

In Brisbane  there is a wonderful parade on March 16, 2013 10:30 am to midday starting at the corner of George and Elizabeth St . It will include Irish dancers, red setters, Irish wolfhounds, pipe and brass bands,  antique cars, clowns, and other entertainers.

In Adelaide St Patrick’s Day Parade will start at 10am from The Irish Club, Carrington Street and includes live music and dance displays. Celebrations continue until 5pm.

In Canberra the Irish Club will start with an tremendous Irish breakfast at 7am and wonderful Irish food throughout the day. Irish dancing, pipe bands and live bands will please the crowds!

In Darwin the Waterfront is the host for St Patrick’s Day and Fiddler’s Green has Irish food, dancers and music from 8am.