Passing on the parade? Here are 4 other ways to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in Greater Boston

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Tomorrow is St. Patrick’s Day, and in case you haven’t heard, it’s kind of a big deal in Boston.

Most locals are likely familiar with some of the city’s longstanding St. Patty’s traditions, like the St. Patrick’s Day parade in Southie and the the jokes at St. Patrick’s Day political breakfast. But there are other ways to celebrate. So this year, I’d like to share a few events that offer lots of the same St. Patrick’s Day craic, just off the beaten path. Sláinte!

St Patrick’s Day Festival at the Irish Cultural Centre | Canton

If you prefer the county fair to a parade, the annual St. Patrick’s Day celebration at the Irish Cultural Centre in Canton is where you’ll want to be this Sunday. Grab some food and sample Irish beers while you take in a traditional Irish dance performance, or just listen to some of the live musicians present at the festival. The event goes from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tickets are free for kids under 12 and $20 for everyone else.

Sober St. Patrick’s Day Polar Bear Plunge | Weymouth

St. Patty’s Day may often be associated with drinking, but some residents are trying to create traditions that don’t involve alcohol. A group of sober friends in Weymouth has put out an open invitation to locals who want to join them for a polar plunge Sunday at 11:30 a.m. at George Lane Beach. The commitment? Just show up! The cost? Free! Get details and tips on what to bring for your cold plunge here.

Celtic ballad workshop at Club Passim | Cambridge

Our arts and culture team is always in the know when it comes to the best musical events in the Greater Boston area. And in this week’s weekend roundup, they’ve spotlighted a two-part Celtic ballad singing class happening at Club Passim in Cambridge on Sunday from 10:30 a.m to 2:30 p.m. Tickets for one class are $40 and $65 for two. And as WBUR arts reporting fellow Solon Kelleher reports, those who sign up for the two-part bundle will receive a 20% discount for brunch.

Historical trails & monuments | Boston

Boston is filled with Irish history, and there are trails and monuments throughout the city that offer new opportunities to learn about it. Consider walking the Irish Heritage Trail — which stops at the Irish Famine Memorial and Rose Kennedy Greenway, as well as fourteen other sites, for a lesson in how Boston’s Irish immigrant population made the city what it is now.

P.S. — Looking to learn more? This piece from our Field Guide digs deeper into the history of Irish immigrants and their contentious relationship with the Boston Brahmins in the mid to late 1800s.

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