Ways To Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day 2023 In Herndon

HERNDON, VA — St. Patrick’s Day is on a Friday this year. Old Town Herndon will be swimming in Kelly green, and perhaps flashing red and blue lights if people don’t behave themselves.

And devout Catholics may have to consult their parish priest before they dig into a plate of corned beef and cabbage.

The Washington Regional Alcohol Program's 2023 St. Patrick’s SoberRide program is planned between 4 p.m. Friday, March 17 and 4 a.m. on Saturday, March 18. Because the holiday is considered a high-risk time for intoxicated driving, the program will offer a Lyft ride up to $15.

Related: Free Sober Rides Offered For St. Patrick's Day 2023 In DC Region

Some of the places in Herndon to celebrate the March 17 holiday are:

• Beat The Go-Karting Leprechaun ... Win a Prize: Special go-kart races throughout the day will give each racer who can pass the Leprechaun a chance to win a prize by drawing from the “Magic Pot of Gold.” Friday, March 17, at 11 a.m., at the AutoBahn Indoor Speedway, 45448 East Severn Way, Sterling VA
• St. Patrick's Day at Jimmy's!: Jimmy's Old Town Tavern, which is located at 697 Spring St. in Herndon, opens at 8 a.m., offering Kegs 'n Eggs until 11 a.m. The Beer Garden is open all day. Come enjoy an Irish menu, Irish music and libations all day. Irish Elvis makes an appearance at 4 p.m. Lyrics DJS from 9:30 p.m. until closing. "Lucky Charms Guess for Charity" from 6-8 p.m. and "Men in Kilts" Contest at 11 p.m.
• St. Paddy's Day at Ned Devines: The Irish restaurant and pub located at 2465 Centreville Road in Herndon opens at 9 a.m. with Keg's & Eggs. Irish Dancers perform at 1:30 p.m., 5:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. Enjoy live music throughout the day, including The Cold North from 10:30 a.m.-2 p.m.; La Unica from 2-6 p.m.; and the All Star Band from 9:30 p.m.-1 a.m.
• St. Patrick's Day at Kalypso's Tavern: Located at 1617 Washington Plaza in Reston, Kalypso's is offering a special Irish menu on Friday. Diners can enjoy corned beef and cabbage, Guinness lamb Irish stew, shepherd's pie, Ruebens and specials on Irish whiskey. Music will be provided by Adrian Chadwell from 5-8 p.m. and Shorty Slim from 8:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m.
• Makers St. Patty's: Open from 11:30 a.m. to 2 a.m., Makers Union at 1811 Library St. in Reston is celebrating St. Patrick's Day with a party. Enjoy Irish fare and drinks, while listening to Jason Masi from 12-3 p.m. or Matty D & Kara from 4-7 p.m. DJ Frostbite will be providing the toons from 7 p.m. to closing.

Devout Catholics abstain from eating meat on Fridays during Lent, a sacrifice that recognizes Jesus’ death on the cross on a Friday. Catholics in several suburban Chicago towns can eat the traditional fare without guilt, but the Diocese of Chicago is holding firm.

Whether revelers in cities like heavily Catholic Chicago, one of the most St. Patrick-y cities in the country, go all in with the holiday staple corned beef and cabbage could come down to whether they get special dispensation from the diocese.

Catholic revelers from Herndon will be happy to know that Bishop Michael F. Burbage of the Catholic Diocese of Arlington, which includes Fairfax County, is granting dispensation from the abstinence from meat on March 17 this year. This extends to any Catholics who are in the diocese during St. Patrick's Day.

"Those taking advantage of this dispensation, however, are exhorted to undertake a work of charity, an exercise of piety, or an act of comparable penance on some other occasion during the Third Week of Lent," according to the diocese website.

There are some Lenten fish fries in the area going on for Catholics who want to play it by the rules.

• Saint James Lenten Fish Fry: Food service is open from 5-8 p.m. for drive-thru or in person dining at Saint James Catholic Church at 905 Park Ave. in Falls Church
• OLGC Lenten Fish Fry: Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Church at 8601 Wolftrap Road in Vienna hosts a weekly Lenten fish fry from 4-7 p.m. on Friday. Dine-in at DeSales Hall and the carry-out entrance is at the glass doors to DeSales Hall. Carry-out can be ordered online in advance.