St. Patrick’s Day explained — history, myths and why we celebrate it
Uncover the truth behind Ireland’s patron saint, the myths and modern traditions of St. Patrick’s Day. Video created using the Wochit AI tool.
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With a color palette as verdant as the freshly growing vegetation, St. Patrick’s Day is one of America’s favorite spring holidays.
Annually breezing in on March 17, the festivities include green outfits, green beer and even green-dyed lakes and rivers, along with lively music, parades and traditional Irish food and drink.
St. Patrick’s Day falls on a Tuesday this year, but that just means that the bars, venues and districts across Oklahoma are partying through the weekend, leading up to even more festivities on the actual holiday.
For revelers who can’t wait to embrace the luck of the Irish, this year’s celebrations range from an Oklahoma City parade led by longhorn cattle to a Durant-area celebration of the almost eight-decade bond between the Choctaw Nation and Ireland.
Here is a sampling of some of the 2026 St. Patrick’s Day events planned in the Sooner State:
Choctaw-Irish Friendship Festival, Calera
The Choctaw Nation’s sprawling cultural center continually pays homage to the longtime connection between the Native American tribe and the Irish people through exhibits as well as furnishings like the chandeliers in the Champuli Café. But this spring festival is an even more spirited celebration of the longstanding friendship, which dates back to the Choctaws’ 1847 donation to Irish people affected by the Potato Famine. The event includes Choctaw and Irish cultural demonstrations, an art market, children’s activities, storytelling and more.
Tulsa Irish Festival
The sixth annual family-friendly event includes face painting, sheep dog demonstrations, live music, Irish dance performances and whiskey tastings.
Sean Cummings Irish Restaurant’s St. Patrick’s Day activities, OKC
- Pub party: 5 p.m. to midnight March 14 and noon to midnight March 17 at Sean Cummings Irish Restaurant, 7628 N May Ave., Oklahoma City.
- Book signing: 2 p.m. March 15 at Full Circle Bookstore, 50 Penn Place, 1900 Northwest Expressway, OKC.
- Information: https://www.facebook.com/SeanCummingsIrishPub.
The festivities at the pub will include added outdoor seating, live music, Guinness, Jameson and all the staples of the holiday.
On Sunday, March 15, Cummings will have a special book signing of his “Irish Pub Cookbook” at Full Circle Bookstore.
St. Patrick’s Weekend at Angry Scotsman Brewing, OKC
- When: Noon to 11 p.m. March 13-14, noon to 9 p.m. March 15 and noon to 10 p.m. March 17. Closed March 16.
- Where: Angry Scotsman Brewing, 704 W Reno, OKC.
- Information: https://www.facebook.com/angryscotbrew.
Along with participating in ShamROCK the Gardens March 17 at the Myriad Gardens, the Midtown microbrewery will host a full weekend of family-friendly Celtic cheer and a St. Patrick’s Day party that includes lots of green beer, live music, food trucks, bingo and more.
Stockyards City St. Patrick’s Day Parade, OKC
Oklahoma’s Irish heritage and Western culture intersect at the free, family-friendly event, led by the Slash-O-Ranch Longhorns. The parade will feature St. Patrick, marching bands, bagpipes, Irish dancers, equestrian entries and more.
This year’s grand marshal is Margaret “Peg” Malloy, who has long worked to help her community, influenced by her Irish heritage and the story of Catherine Ann “Kate” Barnard, a pioneering social reformer and Oklahoma’s first woman elected to statewide office.
Truck Yard OKC’s St. Paddy’s Party
In Lower Bricktown, the OKC location for the Texas-based brand known for pairing nostalgia with Western whimsy will celebrate the “Truck of the Irish” with green beer, theme drinks, live music, free beads and more. Entry is free and open to all ages until 9 p.m., when the party becomes a 21-and-older affair.
The Jones Assembly’s Paddy O’ Party, OKC
One of Oklahoma City’s largest St. Patrick’s Day celebrations, the event features green beer, festive food specials and live music and draws thousands of guests annually. Fred Jones Avenue will be transformed into a pedestrian-friendly street party, creating an all-day indoor-outdoor activation across the patio, dining room and surrounding block.
ShamROCK the Gardens, OKC
With the Myriad Gardens lake dyed green in festive and eco-friendly fashion, the free celebration will feature food, drink and merchandise from local vendors and showcases for some of the state’s best Irish performers, including Oklahoma Fire Pipes and Drums, Ravens Three, Flowers of Edinburgh and McTeggart Irish Dancers of Oklahoma.
McNellie’s St. Patrick’s Day Party, OKC
James E. McNellie’s Public House’s will host its annual St. Patrick’s Day block party featuring live music, bagpipes, possible leprechaun sightings, cute dogs, dancing, and, of course plenty o’ pints.
The pub also will host a mini St. Patrick’s Day party starting at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 14. Both events are open only to celebrants 21 and older.
O’Connell’s 58th Annual Green Beer Day, Norman
A Campus Corner staple since 1968, the Norman neighborhood pub celebrates St. Patrick’s Day with green eggs and ham served starting at 7 a.m., followed by live music, bagpipers, karaoke, trivia and gallons of green beer.
Church Studio’s Tunes @ Noon: St. Patrick’s Day Celebration, Tulsa
Tulsa’s historic Church Studio will host a special St. Patrick’s Day edition of its Tunes @ Noon live music series featuring Tulsa’s beloved Irish music ensemble Cairde na Gael. Known for its lively traditional instrumentation and authentic Celtic sound, the group brings the spirit of Ireland to The Church Studio each year with music that invites audiences to tap their feet and celebrate. Guests wearing green receive free admission.
Arnie’s Bar’s 70th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Street Party, Tulsa
Located in the famed Blue Dome building, the downtown Tulsa staple since 1956 will host its 70th St. Patrick’s Day street party in the middle of 2nd Street and Elgin Avenue. Local food trucks will be serving festive fare, GreenHouse Outfitters will be printing Arnie’s annual St. Patrick’s Day shirts live on site, and the live music lineup will include Cairde na Gael, Tulsa Honors Orchestra, Celtic Cheer and Larkin.
The event is open to all ages until 8 p.m., when it will switch to a 21-and-older party.
Bricktown St. Patrick’s Day Block Party, OKC
Admission is free to the all-ages outdoor festivities, which include yard games, free green party beads and green beer.
Eskimo Joe’s St. Patrick’s Day, Stillwater
Stillwater’s legendary “Jumpin’ Little Juke Joint” starts its St. Paddy’s celebration early, dishing up breakfast cheese fries, green eggs and ham, green pancakes and more from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. Green beer will be served all day.
