The 17th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Austin Festival is one of the best places to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in Central Texas. A celebration with a commitment to authentic Irish culture without a trove of leprechauns is available in Austin. It’s a day of fierce Irish tradition and fun — and no green beer. Irish import beers on tap will be the color that Nature and Arthur Guinness intended — think less “twee” and more “trad.”
The event website at stpatricksdayaustin.com has the full schedule happening on two stages, one indoor and one tented outdoor stage (safe from any potential Irish weather).
A nod to Ireland’s native tongue will be in the form of a fun Irish language workshop with the Gaelic League of Austin, great for any age attendee wanting to leave with a bit of the real brogue
Families with children are welcome. Kids can enjoy all the music and dance along with their parents and even pick up some Irish children’s storybooks in Gaelic while they are there and sign up for Irish dance lessons with the Inishfree Austin Irish Dance school.
The annual Wearing of the Green will have plenty of free parking available in the neighboring lots at Pioneer Farms in Austin. 

There will be plenty of the Irish American Corn Beef and Cabbage. It will be prepared with a Texas twist braised with a mustard crust. Be sure to try a bite for good luck or, if you’d like, try the excellent fish and chips and wash it all down with a cold Irish import like Guinness, Smithwicks or Harp. 

Don’t worry; they will not be checking family trees at the door. Everyone is Irish on St. Paddy’s Day. In the words of the founding director, “We are immensely proud of our Irish heritage. This is not the type of music meant to be kept amongst a few natives, we want to show it off and have everyone join in the dance.”