Your guide to St. Pat’s in Five Points 2018

Ireland might be ~4,000 miles away – but Soda City knows how to get into some shenanigans for St. Patrick’s Day. (Out of 200 of the nation’s largest cities who celebrate the Irish holiday, Columbia ranked #74 in WalletHub’s list of 2018’s Best Cities for St. Patrick’s Day.) 🍀🍺

⏪ Let’s rewind to 1982. This all came about when two men sat in a booth at Yesterday’s + devised a plan to increase visibility of Five Points’ businesses on St. Patrick’s Day – when most people were leaving town for Savannah’s big festival.

⏩ Fast forward 36 years. The annual parking lot party, known as St. Pat’s in Five Points, now shuts down the entire neighborhood to welcome 45,000 people a year to its all-day festival – kicking off the morning with the Get to the Green Race and going into the evening with events for both the wee little lads + the crew •dublin• up on pints of Guinness. Told you Cola has all the shenanigans covered.

Here’s your guide to the 36th Annual St. Pat’s in Five Points tomorrow, March 17 – including what’s new + must-dos.

Top o’ the morning
👟 If you want to feel better about what you’re about to consume the rest of the day… or just really love physical fitness, enter: Get to the Green Race at 7:30 a.m. The 15k, 10K, 5K + 1-Mile Family Fun Run is Columbia’s largest road race. Race registration prices vary depending on race, but all include a t-shirt, post-race snacks + entry into the St. Pat’s Festival.

Festival gates open at 9 a.m. – with the free St. Pat’s parade immediately following at 10 a.m. on Devine St. This year’s parade has 60+ entries, and is Grand Marshaled by the Vietnam Veterans Chapter 303: The Jack Van Loan Chapter.
Shake ya’ shamrocks
25+ bands will perform on 5 different stages starting at noon. Artists include:

🎤 Judah & the Lion | “Take it All Back” + “Suit and Jacket” | nominated for the Alternative Rock Artist of the Year, Best New Rock + Alternative Rock Artist at the iHeartRadio Music Awards

🎤 Rainbow Kitten Surprise | “Devil Like Me” + “Cocaine Jesus” | their spring tour is completely sold out

🎤 SUSTO | “Jah Werx” + “Friends, Lovers, Ex Lovers: Whatever” | they toured with the Lumineers in 2017 + cut their tour in Europe short to play at St. Pat’s

🎤 Jonny P. | “Good to You” + “Drive” | R&B/Soul musician, who just performed at Austin City Limits Music Festival

🎤 Morgan Wallen | “Up Down” + “Little Rain” | current hit features Florida Georgia Line

Here’s the complete lineup, with when + where each band will perform.

Can’t wait ‘til tomorrow? New this year: Get the shows started early with the St. Pat’s playlist on Spotify – that I’m 100% jammin’ out to while I write this + will most def be played at Beth’s pre-game tomorrow morning.

🎧 Q93.5 Silent Disco is back this year, too. If you’ve never ever witnessed one of these, it’s pretty wild. DJs Jason Frost, Tony Karma, Dylan Deekay, LUCiD + Jade will be spinning tunes 2-6 p.m. on Harden St., but you won’t hear them unless you’ve got your headphones on.
For the wee little lads + artists-alike
🎠 Silly adults, St. Pat’s is for kids. The Pot O’ Gold Playland has moved to its new location on Pavilion Ave. Let your little leprechauns enjoy kid-approved entertainment – with rides, games, face painting + more. Entry to playland is free, but rides are ticketed.

The Columbia Arts Academy/Lexington School of Music – largest music school in the state, with 1,300+ students – will be the opening act on the College St. ft. performances by several of their students. 🎶 The school has been voted best place for Music Lessons by the Free Times, The State Newspaper, Lake Murray Life + Lexington Life.
Let’s day drink + eat corned beef (er, tacos)
Aside from the famous green beer, Craft Beer Alley on Santee Ave. will have a tons of specialty craft brews, like local-fav Columbia Craft, plus Breckenridge, Wicked Weed, Palmetto Brewing Company + Bold Rock. 🍻

And to fill your belly o’ gold… or just add fuel to the fire (looking at you Booze Pops) here are all the magically delicious food vendors:

Booze Pops
Brain Freeze Italian Ice
Carolina Cookin'
Crave Cupcake Boutique
Lamb's Bread Vegan Cafe
Party in a Pita
Pawleys Mobile Eats
Real Mexico
Ripper's
San Jose
Size Matters BBQ Bus
The Ono Grindz
Time To Eat
Tropical Delights
Village Idiot Pizza
White Duck Taco Shop
Sold on all of the above. Where do I get my ticket?
🎟 Today is the last day for pre-ticket sales. Save some green by buying them at select Five Points locations for $17 (cash): Jakes, Bohemian, Village Idiot Pizza (Five Points + Whaley), Yesterday’s Restaurant & Tavern + Green’s Beverages.

You can also purchase tickets online for $20. Day of tickets are $25 at the gate. (Pro tip: bring cash; they accept credit cards – but the line moves faster with the green. 💵)
Most importantly: Do NOT drink + drive
🚎 FREE shuttles services

Soda Cap Connector | 10 a.m.-6 p.m., running every 20 minutes | Park at the S.C. State Museum + ride Soda Cap Route 1

Satellite shuttles | 8 a.m.-8 p.m., running every 20 minutes | Park in the RV Lot at the S.C. State Fairgrounds + the Lincoln St. Garage (across from CPD HQ).

Note: If your car is still in the RV lot after 8 p.m., it will be locked in there until Monday.

🚖 Five Points is also paying for the first $10 of your Checker Yellow cab ride home or to your hotel from the festival.

If you do drive, please be respectful + do not park in the surrounding neighborhoods.

You are now prepared for St. Pat’s in Five Points, but first: let’s take a selfie. 📸 Take the most epic selfie, upload it to Instagram + tag @StPatsinFivePoints for a chance to win a $50 gift card to a Five Points business of your choice. Uh, is it conflict of interest if I enter?

And last but not least: If St. Pat’s has left a mark on you, leave a mark in it. Stop by the #StPatsInFivePoints Wall on the 800 Block of Harden St., to write a memory, message or love note to Cola’s favorite festival.

Best o’ luck to you this weekend,

–Sam

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