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Best things to do in Ottawa this St. Patrick’s Day

The opinions expressed in this article are the writer’s own and do not reflect the views of Her Campus.
This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Carleton chapter.

This is not a drill! I repeat this is not a drill! That’s right folks, St. Patrick’s Day falls on a Friday this year! That means you can party your hardest without worries of working the next day to ruin your fun. So, pull out every piece of green clothing you own, get lots of rest and gather your pals because this is sure to be a St. Paddy’s day to remember!

The only problem? You don’t know how you should celebrate the occasion? Well, worry not! Here’s a list of the best ways to spend St. Patrick’s Day in Ottawa:

Hit up your local Irish pub

An Irish pub may seem like an obvious option, but they are definitely one of the best places to be on St. Patrick’s day! Ottawa has plenty of pubs to choose from that go all out for St. Patrick’s Day. Most will be decorated and feature special menu items or drink specials. Some of the best spots are the Heart and Crown, The Royal Oak and Craft Beer Market. However, be sure to arrive super early if you want to avoid long lines outside and ensure that you and your group get a table.

Irish Rovers concert

Where and when: The Shenkman Arts Centre in Orleans on St. Patrick’s Day at 6 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.

The Irish-Canadian folk band, the Irish Rovers, is currently touring after releasing a new album, No End in Sight. The Juno award-nominated group recently made it into Spotify’s Viral Top 50 in the US and UK.

It truly doesn’t get much more Irish than this in terms of a St. Patrick’s Day celebration, so get ready for a night of fun and music with your friends!

Tickets range from $20 to $55.

International Film Festival of Ottawa

If you and your pals are a bit artsier than the average joe, a night at the International Film Festival of Ottawa might be the best way to spend the holiday. The festival aims to bring the best of the global film festival circuit to Ottawa, and it takes place March 8 – 19 in venues across Ottawa’s downtown core. On St. Patrick’s Day, you can select from a variety of films being shown, such as Under the Fig Trees, Meditation Park and Una Femmina – The Code of Silence.

Have a St. Patrick’s Day event I didn’t list? DM us your favs @hccarleton on IG to be featured!

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Jenna Legge

Carleton '24