How to Celebrate St. Patrick's Day in Cleveland

On St. Patrick's Day, everyone is Irish. While it's not an official holiday in Cleveland, many people in the area still skip work or school to join in the annual celebration of all things green and Irish. There's the big parade Downtown and countless pubs serving green beer and corned beef sandwiches, but there's a lot more to a Cleveland St. Patrick's Day celebration than that. If you want to get the whole experience, keep reading and learn how to celebrate the holiday, Cleveland-style.

No true Cleveland Irishman (or woman) can say they've fully celebrated the holiday until they've made at least one pilgrimmage to St. Colman Catholic Church on the city's west side at the corner of West 65th and Lorain Ave. Built by Irish immigrants in the 19th century, St. Colman's annually holds a special St. Patrick's Day mass at 10:30am, complete with West Side Irish American Club marching in with their fife and drums. Hundreds of local Irish travel to St. Colman each St. Patrick's Day, many sporting green, to observe the religious nature of the day.

After mass, before you rush out the door, you might want to grab a snack -- it's going to be a long day. Fortunately, St. Colman's has also got you covered in that respect. Stop down in the hall for Irish soda bread, bangers and coffee, and pick up a pretty green carnation for your lapel. With a full stomach, you're ready to move on to your next adventure - the St. Patrick's Day parade.

If you're brave enough to battle the traffic jam that will inevitably unfold as Northeast Ohio's Irish converge upon Downtown Cleveland, go for it. But, we can't promise you you'll make it down there in time. Instead, a better bet is to hop a ride on the RTA Rapid Transit. Luckily, the West 65th train station is just down the street from St. Colman's, and will take you Tower City, where you'll get off for the parade.

As you walk along the street, don't be surprised if you encounter any number of street vendors selling a range of Irish gear. If you couldn't find your green t-shirt, silly hat, or beads - fret not, they've got you covered.

Looking for an Irish pub to grab a drink before, during or after the parade? There are two pretty close to the parade route: Moriarty's Pub on East 6th, and Flannery's, located on the corner Prospect Ave. and East 4th. Both are likely to be packed, so if a regular old Cleveland bar will suit you, there are plenty of those around. The Arcade located in the Hyatt Hotel on Superior Avenue also transforms for the special day, and typically features live music and beer for purchase.

But let's not forget the parade. Any and all Irish politicians and public figures are in the parade, usually riding in a fancy car, waving and tossing candy to the children. Every Irish group that exists in the area is in the parade, as well as plenty of bands and traditional Irish dancers. The crowd watching the parade along its route is always in the tens of thousands, even when it's cold and rainy. This year, the weather on March 17 promises to be sunny and in the low 50's - a nice day by Cleveland standards for this time of the year. So expect a slightly larger crowd this year.

After the parade, if you're still in the mood for celebrating, you have a few options. Your first option is to stay Downtown and hit up the local bars. Again, this is Cleveland, so your choices are endless. If you hate large crowds, not being able to hear yourself think, and drunken revelry, avoid this option.

If you're looking for more family-friendly fun, get back on the Rapid and get off at the West 65th stop. If you haven't guessed it already, yep, you're headed back to St. Colman's. Think you can't have fun or drink at a church? Think again. Each year, the church hosts the Patton/Conway/McGoun Party in their Hall. This year it will run from 3pm to 6pm, and will feature Irish dancers, bagpipes, and Great Lakes Brewing Company beer, corned beef and potato soup. Admission is $5 for those 12 years of age and older, $3 for those under 12, $25 limit per family. Food and drinks are separate.

Lastly, if crowds aren't your thing and you shudder at the thought of venturing Downtown, there's another great Cleveland tradition for you to partake in -- grabbing a corned beef sandwich at Goodman's, Slyman's, or Superior Deli. Clevelanders will argue about which deli has the best corned beef, but these three consistently get high marks. Just be prepared to wait in line. Afterall, everyone's Irish on St. Patrick's Day.