On March 17 the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Manhattan, the country’s oldest dating back to 1762, will proceed up Fifth Avenue with millions of spectators watching. But there are dozens of St. Patrick’s parades right here on Long Island. Here are our suggestions for pubs and breweries for quenching your thirst with a perfect pint.
Pubs and Breweries to Visit After St. Paddy’s Day Parades on Long Island
Mineola, March 5 – The 73rd annual parade, sponsored by the Irish American Society of Nassau, Suffolk and Queens, will kick off at 10 a.m. and proceed along Mineola Boulevard. For further celebration stop in at The St. James, which offers traditional Irish pub cuisine and the holy trinity of Guinness, Harp, and Smithwick’s on tap along with local craft beers. stjamesmineola.com, 190 2nd St., Mineola
Huntington, March 12 – The 89th annual parade, sponsored by Division 4 of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, is Long Island’s oldest and features dozens of pipe bands. The parade starts at 2 p.m. and proceeds along New York Avenue to Main Street, where there are many watering holes to stop at, including an Irish pub that dates back longer than the parade, Finnegan’s, founded in 1912 by Andrew Finnegan from County Westmeath in Ireland. Finnegan’s continues to serve traditional Irish pub fare and perfect pints in the heart of Huntington Village. lessings.com, 5 Wall St., Huntington
Glen Cove, March 19 – First held in 1989 and sponsored by the Glen Cove Hibernians, the parade will step off at 1 p.m. and proceed through the streets of downtown Glen Cove. The organizers will hold a family-friendly party after the parade at Metropolitan Caterers, but craft beer lovers can head to Noble Savage Brewing, which will feature special beers including a Red Ale and a Dry Irish Stout. noblesavagebrews.com, 27 Glen St., Glen Cove
Wantagh, March 19 – sponsored by the Wantagh Chamber of Commerce, this parade was first held in 2019. The parade will step off at 2 p.m. from Wantagh High School and march south on Wantagh Avenue to Railroad Avenue. The grand marshal is Michael Dunphy, owner of the popular Wantagh Inn, who was born in County Cork, Ireland. The Wantagh Inn serves 20-ounce pints of Guinness and a traditional menu featuring Irish staples such as shepherd’s pie. thewantaghinn.com, 3264 Railroad Ave., Wantagh
Patchogue, March 19 – the celebration on Main Street begins with the “May the Road Rise to Meet Ye” 2-mile run/walk at noon, followed by the parade with marching bands, bagpipes and floats. The race is sponsored by the Greater Patchogue Foundation and runners and walkers can redeem their bib for a beer at participating pubs in town. Two of the best pubs are the James Joyce Irish Pub & Eatery, with 20 taps and Patchogue’s best selection of Irish whiskies, and the Blue Point Brewpub, which will feature the full selection of Blue Point craft beers along with oysters and hearty pub fare. jamesjoyceny.com, 49 S. Ocean Ave., Patchogue. bluepointbrewing.com/brewery, 225 West Main St., Patchogue
Rockville Centre, March 25 – The day begins with 9 a.m. mass at St. Agnes Cathedral and the parade, which was first held in 1997, steps off at noon. Known as “the parade that cares and shares,” the parade has raised more than $1.4 million dollars for nonprofits since its founding. After the parade, the most authentic Irish pub to visit is Monaghan’s, owned and run by Niall and Kathleen Gunn, natives of County Monaghan, Ireland. monaghansrvc.com, 48 N. Village Ave., Rockville Centre
Montauk, March 26 – The Montauk Friends of Erin St. Patrick’s Day Parade, first held in 1962, has grown to become one of the largest St. Pat’s parades in New York State. The marchers kick off at noon and after the parade a great place to enjoy fish and chips and a pint of Guinness at is Shagwong Tavern, which is known for fresh seafood and a dive bar vibe. For craft beer lovers, the taproom at Montauk Brewing Company will likely be serving its seasonal Arrowhead Red Ale, an Irish Red Ale. shagwongtavern.com, 774 Montauk Hwy., Montauk. montaukbrewingco.com, 62 South Erie Ave., Montauk
Bernie Kilkelly is the editor and publisher of LIBeerGuide.com.
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