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st patrick on beach 2023 blog

Calling all Car Fans, Artists and Would-Be Leprechauns

sandybeachvacay March 17, 2023

As a native New Yorker, I always loved celebrating St. Patrick’s Day.  Whether you lived in Staten Island, Brooklyn, the Bronx, Queens or Manhattan, you could always find a parade – with nearly bars ready to serve revelers beer and songs throughout the day.  On the home front, my mother always cooked a corned beef and cabbage dinner, complete with Irish soda bread baked by my dad. It was always a good time.

But then I moved to Florida, figuring my Irish celebration days were behind me, as I traded the chilly days of March for the sun-drenched beaches of Anna Maria Island and Daytona. Boy, was I wrong!

For those of you renting (or thinking about renting) a sandybeachvacay.com vacation unit, I’m happy to report that St. Patrick’s Day is a hopping holiday in Daytona and Anna Maria Island. Snowbirds and day trippers alike can find “Luck of the Irish” celebrations in:

Anna Maria Island – where the parade kicks off at 4 p.m., starting at Eat Here (5315 Gulf Avenue) and heads north to Holmes Beach, where it ends at 85th Street. You won’t want to miss the Irish step dancers, bagpipers and local school bands as they accompany the floats along the parade route.

Daytona Beach – where the 25th Annual St. Paddy’s Day Bigger and Better Block Party kicks off at the Riverfront Shops of Daytona Beach from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m.  in the historic Beach Street area. You won’t want to miss it!

If you’re more about beer than bagpipes, there are micro-breweries in both locations, where you can enjoy artisan craft beers with friends and family.  Micro Breweries of Ponce Inlet and Anna Maria Island

If you’re not into St. Patrick’s Day at all, you can still have a great time at:

The 33rd Annual Spring Daytona Turkey Run , which runs from 3/24-3/25 at the International Speedway Track. This most popular of events features thousands of classic cars in a massive swap meet that also includes food, arts and crafts and music. And yes, there’s a car parade around the International Speedway track at 2 p.m. on Sunday.

The 34th Annual Springfest Fine Arts and Crafts Festival in Anna Maria Island , which runs from 3/19-3/20 in City Field. Sponsored by the Anna Maria Island Arts League, this amazing event features 80 artists showcasing their work in oil paintings, wood and other media. Throw in live music and plenty of food, and you’re got yourself a wonderful way to spend a weekend with friends and/or your family.

With all this happening, I hope to see you soon here in Florida, whether you’re a car fan, artist…or Irish, just for a day!

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