Here’s what to look out for at the fun-filled fiesta of St Patrick’s Day this month
By Pamela Chow
Head down to the St Patrick’s Festival for a memorable time with festivities, food and drink
Originally a Christian celebration of the Feast of Saint Patrick of Ireland, St Patrick’s Day has become, today, a lively and colourful celebration of all things Irish.
While the actual day falls on Mar 17, the festivities usually last for at least a few days. In Singapore, the St Patrick’s Festival is back with three weeks of fun activities and promotions for anyone who’s planning to feast and have fun.
Here are five things you can do at the St Patrick’s Festival this year.
1. Catch live music performances
What better way to soak in the St Patrick’s Day atmosphere than with the beautiful sounds of the Irish (and Irish-inspired artistes)?
This year, the Festival features live performances across a variety of venues by acts such as The Smashing Clovers, Gan Ainm, Hermitage Green and Singapore’s very own 53A.
Also read: Joss Stone will be learning Chinese opera under Singaporean Nick Shen
2. Enjoy complimentary Guinness Draught
20,000 complimentary pints of Guinness Draught are up for grabs for fans over the age of 18. Simply send an SMS with your Name<SPACE>NRIC to 8151 5555 to enjoy a complimentary pint of Guinness Draught, until Mar 20.
Each successful applicant will receive an SMS notification that can be presented for verification and pint redemption at participating bars and outlets.
Update: The complimentary pints have been fully registered for. If you’re one of them, redeem your complimentary pint at any participating bars and outlets by Mar 20.
3. Take part in family-friendly events
Besides enjoying a pint or two for the adults, families with children can also look forward to a number of kids’ events on the Festival day, including nail-painting, airbrush tattoos and bouncy castle fun.
Check out a full line-up of the Festival events here.
4. Stuff yourself silly with Irish platters
Numerous food and drink deals will be available exclusively over the period of the Festival. Dig into succulent treats like Guinness-infused beef, roasted pork and St Patrick’s Platters available at several restaurants.
Even if you’ve redeemed your free pint of Guinness, look out for one-for-one promotions in eateries island-wide.
5. Join the iconic St Patrick’s Day Parade
The March festivities will culminate in the St Patrick’s Street Festival, taking place at Boat Quay and the adjacent Circular Road. The fun-filled Street Festival, which kicks off on Mar 19, will feature a host of entertaining activities such as balloon-sculpting, airbrush tattoo booths, a bouncy castle for the energetic little ones, face and nail painting, as well as traditional Irish hair braiding.
Various performances — from tradi-tional Irish dance to international music acts — will be there to keep the beat going. The Street Festival will conclude in a colourful Parade on Mar 20.
The St Patrick’s Festival runs until Mar 20. For more information, visit singapore-river.com/stpatricksday2016.
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