St. Pete’s Paddy Fest Adds Wrestling, Whiskey to St. Patrick’s Day Event
Williams Park in downtown St. Petersburg will turn into the ultimate Irish celebration on Saturday, March 15, 2025, when Paddy Fest returns for its third year. The event will feature a full day of entertainment, from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., with St. Pete Irish Dancers, Rising Young Pipers bagpiping, whiskey tastings, and more.
Adult admission is $10 (early birds pay only $5 right now), and children 13 and younger are free.
As one of the new events in 2025, leprechaun wrestling, held in partnership with the Micro Wrestling All-Stars, is a must-see in front of the main stage. Limited ringside seating is available for $50 and includes cocktail service.
Families with kids can enjoy the expanded Kids’ Zone on the park’s east side, complete with bounce houses, a giant slide, a 90-foot obstacle course, and face painting. Kids’ Zone admission is available only for children 13 and younger; all-day access wristbands will be available for $5.
Mary Margaret’s 21-and-older tent will present live Irish music performed by Chad McDonald, magic tricks from Cory Van Valin, Guinness pints, and complimentary Irish whiskey tastings. Admission is $10 for adults only.
Guests can also sample Irish-inspired dishes from vendors inside the food event. Get your fill of slow-cooked corned beef and cabbage, and more delicacies from the Emerald Isle, presented in partnership with Chef Melanie Rattanachane’s event caterers, Fresh Factory.
Paddy Fest is organized by Pete Boland and Kat Van Dora, two St. Petersburg locals who operate Mary Margaret’s Irish Pub and have more than a decade of experience dabbling in all things Irish.
βIt’s nice to come full circle here,β Boland said in an interview with the website ilovetheburg.com. “St. Patrick’s is a special day for us, and we’re thrilled to do something on this level for the city we love on our favorite holiday.β
