Saint Patrick's Day Guide

Prepare to see a world awash with green — St. Patrick's Day is at hand once again. With this year's national inebriation celebration falling on a Sunday, the hard stuff may have to be done the day before, but don't worry; there are plenty of pubs and parades to help you get into the spirit.

Related Content

• St. Paddy’s Day Celebrations
  March 14, 2013
• “Emily Link: TUMULUS”
  April 19, 2012
• Puppy Overload At BARC! Cuteness Levels Spiking!!
  March 22, 2013
• Big Night
  February 23, 2012
• Taylor Swift Visiting Houston May 16
  October 27, 2012

More About

• St. Patrick's Day
• Brian O'Neill
• Baker St. Pub
• Irish Food and Cooking
• Food and Cooking

March 8

Beer, Boobs, Babes and Balls

Griff's Shenanigans Café & Bar

Cypresswood Golf Course

21602 Cypresswood, Spring

713-528-9912, www.griffshouston.net

Griff's will be holding its 31st annual Irish open golf tournament, also known as Beer, Boobs, Babes and Balls. Tee time is noon with a shotgun start. There'll be trophies and prizes for first, second and third places as well as special prizes for Closest to Hole and Longest Drive. You can also come early for a putting contest at 11 a.m. The individual entry fee is $135, and all participants must apply.

March 9

St. Baldrick's Day

Brian O'Neill's

5555 Morningside

713-522-2603, www.brianoneills.com

Join with the folks at Brian O'Neill's for this year's St. Baldrick's Day celebration, where the truly generous among us will be shaving their heads for all to see in exchange for donations to help support kids with cancer. This event benefits St. Baldrick's Foundation, which funds research into children's cancer in the U.S. There's a 3 p.m. start time. To learn more about St. Baldrick's or to commit to shaving your head, visit www.stbaldricks.org.

March 10

7th Annual St. Baldrick's Day

The Goose's Acre Bistro & Irish Pub

21 Waterway Ave., The Woodlands

281-466-1502, www.thegoosesacre.com

Like its sister pub, Brian O'Neill's, The Goose's Acre will be participating in the 7th Annual St. Baldrick's Day celebration, which involves people shaving their heads publicly. This event helps raise donations for children's cancer research through the St. Baldrick's Foundation. The event starts at 3 p.m. To learn more about St. Baldrick's or to commit to shaving your head, please visit www.stbaldricks.org.

March 11

Green Clover Fun Run

The Goose's Acre Bistro & Irish Pub

21 Waterway Ave., The Woodlands

281-466-1502, www.thegoosesacre.com

The Goose's Acre Running Club will be hosting its third Green Clover Fun Run for charity, with all proceeds going to St. Baldrick's Foundation. The fun run, a 5K, starts at 5:30 p.m. Wearing green or other St. Patrick's-themed attire is highly encouraged. Registration fees are $20 and participants will receive a free goodie bag, complimentary dinner buffet and (for those who are of age) a free green beer. Register ­online.

March 12

St. Patrick's Day Cornhole Tournament under the Tent

Griff's Shenanigans Café & Bar

3416 Roseland

713-528-9912, www.griffshouston.net

Compete in the fourth annual St. Patrick's Day Cornhole Tournament under the tent at Griff's for prizes and fun. Also, enjoy Griff's steak night.

March 14

St. Paddy's Day Queen Contest

Griff's Shenanigans Café & Bar

3416 Roseland

713-528-9912, www.griffshouston.net

Griff's annual St. Paddy's Day Queen Contest starts at 7 p.m. under the tent. Judging will be based on natural beauty, poise, attire and personality. All contestants must apply; check-in begins at 5:30 p.m.

March 15

St. Practice Day Golf Tournament

Wildcat Golf Club

12000 Almeda Rd.

832-526-8764, www.luckyspub.com

Lucky's Pub holds its first annual St. Practice Day Golf Tournament — a sort of pregame event for the big day on the 17th with drinks, lunch and dinner included — at the Wildcat Golf Club at 12000 Almeda Road. The entry fee will cover the cost of the meals, the golf cart, an 18-hole green fee, a commemorative T-shirt and VIP entrance to Lucky's St. Patrick's Day party the day of. Individual entry is $135 and corporate entry is $625. Mulligans are available at four for $20 and hole sponsorships are $100 each. Tee time is at noon.

March 16

5th Annual Shamrock Shuffle

Brian O'Neill's

5555 Morningside

713-522-2603, www.brianoneills.com

Brian O'Neill's 5th Annual Shamrock Shuffle will consist of the usual 5K Fun Run and 1K Kids Run benefiting the Houston Ronald McDonald House. The 5K run starts at 10 a.m., while the kids' run begins at 10:30 a.m. There will be a Sexy Kilt contest, an Irish Costume contest and a Dog Costume contest. There's also a raffle, and adults will receive a free drink ticket with every 5K registration as well as a free T-shirt if they register before March 6. Adult registration fees are $25 before March 11 and $40 after that. Registration in the kids' run is $10.

Irish Stew, Chili, Chicken and Open Irish Dish Cook-off

Griff's Shenanigans Café & Bar

3416 Roseland

713-528-9912, www.griffshouston.net

Join the folks at Griff's for its annual Irish Stew, Chili, Chicken and Open Irish Cook-off from noon to 6 p.m., with check-in between 9 and 11 a.m. Guests can join the 10 a.m. caravan known as the Green Tide to see Houston's Annual St. Patrick's Day Parade, then return to Griff's after the parade for the cook­off. Each team will consist of six cooks, who must supply everything they might need, including propane, and prepare the food at Griff's after check-in, including five gallons of stew or chili and one whole chicken. City rules require that each team bring three aluminum pans each for a different cleaning purpose. The entry fee is $25 for one item or $50 for all four. Judging begins at 4 p.m. for chicken, 4:30 p.m. for stew, 5 p.m. for open and 5:30 p.m. for chili. Prizes are six festival passes and $50 worth of drink tickets for St. Paddy's Day for first place; six festival passes for St. Paddy's Day and $25 worth of drink tickets for second; and six festival passes for St. Paddy's Day for third place. Awards will be given for "Best Decorated Booth" and "Most Creative Stew," and beer will be provided for all participants during the competition. All participants must apply.