St. Patrick’s Day 2027 at a glance
St. Patrick’s Day lands on Wednesday, March 17, 2027. Because it is midweek, expect most organized events, including CelticFest and the big charity runs, to happen on the weekend before, March 12 to 14, with pubs carrying the party on the day itself. These weekend dates are an expectation based on past years, not an announcement.
2027 status: as of November 2026, CelticFest Vancouver has not published 2027 dates or a line-up, and race registration for 2027 is not open yet. We list 2026 details below as a reference and will update this guide when organizers confirm.
The night before, Tuesday, March 16, 2027, is also Chaharshanbe Suri, the Persian fire festival. In 2026 the two fell on the same evening.
Is there a St. Patrick’s Day parade in Vancouver?
No. Vancouver’s downtown St. Patrick’s Day parade, once run by CelticFest, ended in 2017 because of weather uncertainty and falling sponsorship. CelticFest’s large free outdoor weekend was also cancelled in 2025 for funding reasons and replaced with smaller events around the city. In 2026 a free Family Day returned downtown. No parade has been announced for 2027.
CelticFest Vancouver 2027
CelticFest Vancouver is Western Canada’s largest annual Celtic festival, a mix of free and ticketed concerts, dances and family events held in the days around St. Patrick’s Day. Dates for 2027 have not been announced; check celticfestvancouver.com in January and February.
What CelticFest offered in 2026
The 2026 festival ran Friday, March 13 to Sunday, March 15, 2026:
- St. Patrick’s Day Ceilidh — 2027 not announced — Friday, March 13, 2026, 7 p.m., Hellenic Community Centre, 4500 Arbutus Street, with the Blackthorn Band — ticketed via Eventbrite
- Vancouver Welsh Men’s Choir CelticFest Concert — 2027 not announced — Saturday, March 14, 2026, 1:30 p.m. — ticketed
- Live at the Hollywood Theatre — 2027 not announced — Saturday, March 14, 2026, Hollywood Theatre, 3123 West Broadway, Kitsilano, with Paul Caldwell, The Whisky Dicks and Michael Burnyette — ticketed
- What’s the Craic? A Night of Irish Devilry — 2027 not announced — Saturday, March 14, 2026, an evening variety show — ticketed
- CelticFest Family Day — 2027 not announced — Sunday, March 15, 2026, noon to 5 p.m. at šxʷƛ̓ənəq Xwtl’e7énḵ Square (Vancouver Art Gallery north plaza), with live music, Irish dancing, a Celtic market, food trucks, Irish wolfhounds, face painting and bouncy castles — free
In 2025 the festival ran a longer program from March 7 to 17, including a cooking demonstration with chef Donal Hughes and a Family Day at Famee Furlane on East Pender Street.
St. Patrick’s runs and races
| Event | 2027 status | 2026 date and place | 2026 cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| St. Patrick’s Day 5K | Not announced | Saturday, March 14, 2026, 9:30 a.m., Stanley Park Pavilion (Pipeline Road) | About $56 to $72 depending on registration date |
| Shamrock’n Race (5K, 7 mile, half marathon) | Not announced | Sunday, March 15, 2026, 9 a.m., Burnaby Lake (Sperling Avenue), by Try Events | About $59 to $108 depending on distance and date |
The Stanley Park 5K is a popular Stanley Park loop that raises money for Diabetes Canada and St. John Ambulance. It has been held on the Saturday before St. Patrick’s Day in recent years (March 15, 2025 and March 14, 2026). Costumes in green are very much encouraged at both races. Early registration is cheapest and usually opens in late November or December.
Irish pubs for St. Patrick’s Day
Pubs are the main event on March 17 itself. Many add live music and Irish food and drink specials for the day. On a Wednesday the after-work crowd arrives around 5 p.m., so go early or book where possible.
- The Blarney Stone, Gastown — known for an all-day St. Patrick’s party with live bands; expect a line
- The Irish Heather Shebeen, Gastown
- Doolin’s Irish Pub
- Mahony’s, with locations at False Creek and by the Vancouver Convention Centre
In 2026 several downtown venues also ran St. Patrick’s specials, from an Irish menu pop-up at The Ballyhoo Public House on Burrard Street to drink deals at Parq Vancouver. Look for similar offers in early March 2027.
Family-friendly and daytime ideas
- CelticFest Family Day — free, usually on the Sunday before St. Patrick’s Day; watch for the 2027 date.
- Celtic Fest at the Museum of Surrey — held March 22, 2025, 1 to 4 p.m.; check the museum for any 2027 program in Surrey.
- St. Patrick’s brunch — busy spots such as OEB Breakfast Co., Jam Café and Medina Cafe fill up early; arrive before 10 a.m.
- Green landmarks — in past years landmarks such as Canada Place, BC Place, Science World and the Vancouver Convention Centre have been lit green. Lighting schedules are set close to the date.
- Cooking classes and paint nights — in 2026 these ran in Burnaby and Surrey on March 17; look on Eventbrite in late February.
Getting around on St. Patrick’s Day
- Gastown pubs: Waterfront Station (Expo and Canada lines, SeaBus, West Coast Express) is a short walk.
- Vancouver Art Gallery plaza: Vancouver City Centre Station (Canada Line) or Granville Station (Expo Line).
- Hollywood Theatre: the 99 B-Line along Broadway stops a few blocks away.
- Stanley Park 5K: Pipeline Road closes at 8:30 a.m. on race day; take the bus to the Stanley Park loop or cycle.
- Burnaby Lake: Sperling–Burnaby Lake Station on the Millennium Line is the closest SkyTrain stop.
Never drink and drive. Transit, taxis and ride-hailing are busy after 9 p.m., so plan your ride home.
More March events
For everything else happening around St. Patrick’s Day, browse the March events calendar, our holidays and celebrations page, the Vancouver events calendar and all upcoming events. If you are out on Tuesday, March 16, see our Chaharshanbe Suri guide.
