On St. Patrick’s Day on Tuesday, you can find lively music and drinks flowing as thousands of people celebrate Irish heritage in a harbor city with wet, temperate winters. While rainy Seattle comes to mind, that could also easily describe Galway, Ireland, our sister city since 1986.
According to the Seattle Galway Sister City Association, then-Seattle Mayor Charles Royer and Galway Mayor Bridie O’Flaherty signed an agreement that promised “exchanges that would promote mutual understanding and communication between our two countries and cities,” among other goals.
Since then, a number of Seattle-area Irish cultural organizations and events celebrate that bond each year, particularly on St. Patrick’s Day. On the 40th anniversary of the agreement, here are a few local festivals and other events to celebrate the rich Irish heritage found in the Emerald Isle and the Emerald City and beyond.
Irish Week 2026 and St. Patrick’s Day Parade — Through March 15
The Irish Heritage Club of Seattle bids “céad míle fáilte,” or a hundred thousand welcomes, by showcasing the best of Irish music, dance, baking and more throughout the city. At 7 p.m. Friday, watch as organizers paint a vibrant green stripe on Alaskan Way and Wall Street, highlighting the route of the St. Patrick’s Day parade that will take place along the Seattle waterfront the following day. At noon Saturday, the annual parade will kick off at the Seattle-Galway Sister City stone by Pier 66 and travel south along Alaskan Way to Union Street (Pier 59), featuring a procession of floats, bagpipe players and other cultural acts.
Free; locations and times vary; irishclub.org
Emerald City Irish Film Festival — March 14-15
Pacific Science Center will feature a curated collection of Irish films at the PACCAR IMAX theater. Film enthusiasts can watch eight award-winning films from the 2025 Galway Film Fleadh, including “We Only Want the Earth,” a documentary on Irish revolutionary James Connolly; “Ireland and the First Nations,” the untold story of how Irish people interacted with the First Nations of North America; and “Song of the Sea,” an animated children’s fantasy film about family and folklore.
Single tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for seniors and children ages 4-15 and free for toddlers 3 and younger; 200 Second Ave. N., Seattle; emeraldcityirishfilmfest.com
Irish Festival Seattle — March 14-15
This two-day, family-friendly festival at Seattle Center brings performances by Irish dancers, musicians and more to two stages, plus films and conversations celebrating Irish storytelling. Also: Explore handmade goods from more than a dozen Irish and Celtic vendors, enjoy Guinness and other beers on tap at Irish Bar and grab traditional Irish food served by Shawn O’Donnell’s Irish Pub.
Free; noon-4:45 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m.-4:45 p.m. Sunday; 305 Harrison St., Seattle; st.news/irish-festival
St. Patrick’s Day Dash — March 15
Don your best green outfit for the 42nd annual St. Patrick’s Day Dash 5K at Seattle Center. The race kicks off at 9 a.m. by the Space Needle, where participants will wind their way to Seventh Avenue and through the South Lake Union business district before an out-and-back section on Aurora Avenue North. Then it’s a dash to the finish line back to the Seattle Center International Fountain, where a beer garden, costume contest and food await. Plus, there’s an approximately 1K Leprechaun Lap for kids 10 and younger, starting at 8:30 a.m. above the Fisher Pavilion.
Registration for adults is $45 by Friday and $50 on Saturday and Sunday, and you can get free entries if you refer a friend. Leprechaun Lap entries by Friday are $25 and $30 on Saturday and Sunday. 305 Harrison St., Seattle; stpatsdash.com
St. Patrick’s Day at Spanish Ballroom — March 16 and 17
The Spanish Ballroom at McMenamins’ Elks Temple in Tacoma presents two nights filled with Irish tunes for music lovers. At 7 p.m. Monday, the Portland-based Katie Jane’s Celtic Light Orchestra will use glow-in-the-dark violin bows, projections and more visual tricks to accompany a family-friendly program of Irish music and dance. Tickets for the orchestra are $49 per adult and $36 per child 18 and younger, available at st.news/orchestra.
Then, bring your crew and your voices for “singalongs, drinking anthems, rebel spirit and rowdy choruses” 3-10 p.m. Tuesday and celebrate with performances from the Clan Gordon Pipe Band, Curlew’s Call and The Fun Police. This event is free to the public.
565 Broadway, Tacoma; mcmenamins.com/elks-temple/spanish-ballroom
43rd annual St. Patrick’s Irish Festival at Kells — Through March 17
Visitors to Kells Irish Restaurant & Pub at Pike Place Market will lend an ear to Irish live music and enjoy food, drink and rugby watch parties all week. Housed in a former mortuary, spirits of the deceased have reportedly shared space with pub visitors, making the pub a popular destination on local ghost tours.
$20 entry on Tuesday, free entry on other days; 10 a.m.-late through Monday and 9 a.m.-late on Tuesday; 1916 Post Alley, Seattle; kellsseattle.com
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.yakimaherald.com ’
