Traditionally, St. Patrick’s Day is a celebration of Christianity's arrival in Ireland. But if you’re anything like me, you probably didn’t know that. Nowadays, St. Patrick’s Day is more known for its wild parties, gaudy green decorations, and, of course, large crowds of rowdy day drinkers. Each year, there are over 100 St. Patrick’s Day parades thrown across the country with the largest occurring in New York and Boston with attendance consistently above 100,000.

In 2012, it was estimated that on St. Patrick’s Day Americans spent approximately $245 million on beer. For those in the beer industry, this adds a whole new meaning to the phrase “gold at the end of the rainbow.” We spoke with Kinnek customer, Chris Doyle, one of the owners of Galway Bay Pub located in Ocean Shores, Washington, for tips on ensuring your St. Paddy’s Day is full of green. 

Like many Irish pubs, Galway Bay celebrates St. Patrick’s Day with a party. But not just any party - Chris describes the festivities as five full days full of culture, fun, and live music honoring the Irish tradition. They call it St. Paddy’s Feis and Chris says that the weeks preceding March 17th are some of the most exciting of the year.

Start Early!

Though the spirit of the holiday is lighthearted, preparation for such an important event must be handled with care. Galway Bay has been putting on St. Paddy’s Feis for some years now and he understands its importance to the pub.

Strategy planning begins four weeks prior to the event when Chris and his team can create their event checklist. As the big day gets closer, the intensity mounts.
Chris says, “Physical preparation requires not only our paid employees, but [even] several volunteers.”

Involve the Community

A big part of what makes St. Paddy’s Feis so unique is how Galway Bay highlights and celebrates the special relationship they have with their clientele and their community. The pub owners are founding members of the Irish Heritage Club of Grays Harbor - there will be a raffle at this year’s event that will benefit the organization. They also are big proponents of the local art scene, with performances from 10 local bands, and a parade throughout Ocean Shores that ends at the pub.

Make it Stand Out

At Galway Bay, St. Patrick’s Day is about more than simply the consumption of beer and, in Chris’ words, “everybody's favorite American Irish dish: corned beef cabbage.” In addition to tall glasses of Guinness and Galway Bay’s house ale, festival goers are sure to enjoy the numerous Irish heritage and cultural activities throughout the weekend. Spirited St. Paddiers are also encouraged to explore the pub’s extensive traditional Irish menu which includes their shepherd’s pie, bangers and mash, and veggie pastry. St. Paddy’s Feis 2015 will begin on Friday, March 13th and end on St. Patrick’s Day, March 17th. Chris says, “It allows us to capture a lot more sales as we celebrate [it] over a several day period.

Reward Yourself

Don’t forget to take a break and admire your handiwork. It’s important to celebrate your success. Chris says, “[After the big celebration, my business partner and I sit back and relax on our cigar patio with a fine cigar, a Galway Bay Irish Ale, and perhaps a little Irish whiskey too.” Taking time to treat yourself will leave you feeling fresh for when the next big project comes around!

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