St Patrick's Day In Airlie Beach 2024
St Patrick’s Day, a joyous day celebrating all things Irish, is a hugely iconic and symbolic celebration worldwide. With such a large diasporic Irish community in every corner of the globe, it’s little wonder how or why such a day is celebrated on such a large scale!
And for those living in Airlie Beach in the Whitsundays, with hundreds of backpackers and residents from overseas in the town at any one time, this is no different! Here’s your ultimate guide to commemorating St Patrick’s Day in Airlie Beach this year!
What is St Patrick's Day?
St Patrick's Day is a cultural and religious holiday which originated in Ireland and is celebrated annually. Every year on the 17th of March, St Patrick’s Day pays homage to its namesake, St Patrick, the foremost patron saint of Ireland. Credited with converting the population of Ireland from paganism to Christianity in the 5th century, St Patrick’s legacy has been immortalised in the form of massive annual celebrations around the world!
Becoming a public holiday in 1903 in Ireland, the celebratory landscapes of St Paddy’s Day have shifted over the years, but the core fundamentals remain the same - parades, parties, green attire, landmarks lit up in green, and of course, lots and lots of liquid merriness!
Where can I celebrate St Patrick’s Day in Airlie Beach?
Airlie Beach is a town that loves a reason to celebrate! Therefore, plenty of venues are getting into the Irish spirit this year and hosting events over the weekend! Here’s how you can spend St Patrick’s Day in Airlie Beach this weekend.
Paddy’s Shenanigans
Airlie’s very own Irish bar is the ultimate place to go to celebrate this Irish festivity! On Saturday, 16th March 2024 from 8pm, Paddy's Shenanigan's is throwing a St Patrick's Day Eve party. With Guiness on tap, live music all night long, surprises, giveaways and more, you're in for the night of your life! Plus, the venue will be open until 5am so you can truly dance the night away!
Airlie Beach Hotel
The Airlie Beach Hotel is hosting a St Patrick's Day special event on Sunday, March 17th from 2pm. U2 tribute band, 'Rattle and Rum' are set to perform. They'll be singing U2 classics, Coldplay songs and bellowing Irish anthems of course! The large venue has a bistro, sports bar, gaming lounge, outdoor seating and more, making it the perfect place to go to celebrate this iconic Irish event!
Magnums
Magnums Hotel, in the heart of Airlie Beach is also celebrating the famous Saint Patrick's Day on the 17th of March. From 3pm there will be live music, games, and prizes up for grabs! Grab your buddies, dig out your green clothes, and head on down to Magnums for a good time!
Is St Patrick’s Day A Public Holiday In Australia?
Unlike with many other countries in the world, St Patrick’s Day is not a national public holiday here in Australia! That isn’t to say, however, that the celebrations are any less impressive. Each of the main cities host big parades or festivals, community events, dance performances and displays of the Irish flag to commemorate the day. Most venues that celebrate St Patrick's Day will typically hold events over the weekend to ensure everyone can have fun and get involved!
Other ways to celebrate St Patrick's Day in Airlie Beach
If you don't feel like going to the local pubs and bars to partake in the drinking festivities on St Patrick's Day, there are so many other ways you can enjoy the day!
Head out on a day trip to Whitehaven Beach
Whitehaven Beach is known world-wide as the iconic white sand beach. People from far and wide flock to the beach to see it for themselves. It's also the perfect place to go if you want to have a memorable St Patrick's Day like no other! Hop aboard one of the many day boats departing Airlie Beach and have an amazing day out on the water.
Go for a picnic on the foreshore
An ideal activity to do with your friends on St Patrick's Day is to have a picnic on the Airlie Beach foreshore. Visit one of the local cafes and grab takeaways, or simply bring your own lunch, and get cosy on the grass by the foreshore. There are free BBQs there too which is handy if you want to cook your lunch. Soak in the views of the Whitsundays while you socialise amongst friends!
Head to a waterfall for the day
Want to spend St Patrick's Day chasing waterfalls? Then you'll want to head to Cedar Creek Falls, located only twenty minutes out of Airlie Beach. You can either drive yourself, or jump on a tour! Cedar Creek is a pristine, cascading waterfall nestled within the Conway National Park rainforest. You can dip in the freshwater lagoon, explore the rock pools, or simply relax and enjoy the natural surroundings. What a way to spend the day!
