This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Community Corner

The Luck of the Irish

Florissant offers its own Irish celebrations and businesses to go along with city parades.

Patch Picks highlights editor and reader picks of great local businesses, destinations, services, organizations, ways to spend a day off and more. 

You’ll find useful lists to help you, your family, friends and significant others find the best places for everything from Sunday brunch to New Year’s Eve celebrations, pumpkin patches, date night destinations, florists, girlfriend nights out, kids party places, parks and more.

St. Patrick’s Day has arrived and brings with it the promises of merriment and tons of green. (Unfortunately, it's not the money kind of green.) Most importantly, the forecast promises green grass and more sun than clouds, with a possible temperature in the 70s.

Find out what's happening in Florissantwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

This, of course, raises a question in particular: What to do that day? The combination of great weather, leprechauns bouncing through the street and Spring Break (not to mention the beginning of March Madness) present reason to get out into the action. Patch has caught on to the luck of the Irish, and we know of a few parties and businesses that would make St. Patrick proud.

1)    For St. Louis as a whole, the 28th annual is the place to be. Marching through the historic Dogtown neighborhood in the Clayton/Tamm area on the south side of St. Louis, families from all around are encouraged to come and enjoy the sights and sounds of the city’s Irish population. The parade begins at noon, south of the Tamm Avenue overpass at Oakland Boulevard and will end at Manchester Road. Come early to get the best parking, but expect to pay between $10 and $20.

Find out what's happening in Florissantwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

2)    Florissant is not without it’s own Irish traditions. The Old St. Ferdinand Shrine off of rue St. Francois will host its annual St. Patrick’s Day celebration from 11 a.m.  to 6 p.m. A true Irish meal consisting of corned beef, cabbage and potatoes will be served in the schoolhouse, while tours of the shrine will be offered throughout the day. Friends of Old St. Ferdinand will also be hosting a book sale at the shrine. The Irish lunch will cost $8.50 for adults, and $4 for children under 12.

3)    Florissant offers its own shop for all things Irish with TIS The Irish Shop. Located at 1060 rue St. Catherine, St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated here all year round. A new addition to Old Town Florissant, the store opened in 2010 as Thistle and Clover, specializing in all things Irish, Scottish and Welsh. The store recently underwent the name change, and now sells everything and anything Irish, from the required green T-shirts to traditional Irish cookbooks, candles and jewelry.

4)    Mattingly’s Sports Bar and Grill will throw a St. Patrick’s celebration as well, starting at 6 a.m. Thursday morning and ending at 1:30 a.m. on Friday morning. Corned beef and cabbage will be served all day for around $7, so there’s no excuse for not getting in a lucky Irish meal. If nothing else, they invite everyone to come in and have a drink in honor of St. Patrick and help unleash the Irish in everyone.

5)    For those who can’t find a way to get out and join the festivities, Flowers by Olga offers the perfect compromise. Their Green Beer Mug of Blooms and St. Patrick’s Day Flower Basket make excellent desk ornaments to proudly declare to all around that it is St. Patrick’s Day. No man can say no to a beer mug full of flowers. Call 830-3970 or visit their location at 3246 Lindbergh Blvd. to pick up or schedule a delivery.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?

More from Florissant