7 things to do in Annapolis: St. Patrick’s celebration craics open spring

After a very long winter, the St. Patrick’s Parade in Annapolis spreads out from Sunday afternoon to include a joyous spring-like weekend.

The Irish have a quintessential word for it: craic — (pronounced “crack”) — fun, entertainment, good company and generally a great time.

The parade itself steps off at 1 p.m. at West Street at Amos Garrett Boulevard. It heads toward downtown on West Street, around Church Circle and down Northwest, Calvert and St. John’s streets. The parade normally ends at City Dock, but it’s under construction.

Most cities that host parades honoring the Irish saint hold them the weekend before St. Patrick’s Day, which falls on Tuesday, March 17.

So the Irish marching units, bands, emerald societies, floats and equestrians that come to the Annapolis parade this Sunday look at it as a bonus, one week early.

Naptown Events, which puts on the parade, has canceled the Irish music festival that normally follows it, again because of City Dock construction. And the opening night Annapolis Hooley, a party with bands, food and more fun, is sold out.

So, you might have to make do with a visit to one of five Irish — or Irish-ish — pubs in Annapolis: Galway Bay Irish Restaurant and Pub, Castlebay Irish Pub, McGarvey’s, Stan & Joe’s Saloon and Davis’ Pub. If the last two don’t sound like they fit in, just step inside; the shamrock spirit and live music will convince you.

Stan & Joe’s has the biggest lineup, with four bands, starting at 3 p.m. Saturday and again at 4 p.m. Sunday.

There are two pub crawls on Saturday, hitting these and other spots in support of local charities.

From noon to 5 p.m., Naptown Events hosts the Official Annapolis Shamrock Stroll. Now in its 12th year, the crawl hits a dozen bars with drink and food specials plus giveaways.

Admission is $5, plus the cost of your drinks and food. Dressing in green isn’t mandatory, but it is recorded on social media.

The event overlaps with Peake Social’s fourth annual Peake Irish Experience. The $5 event offers two routes from noon to 6 p.m. and also includes drink and food specials.

St. John’s College joins the fun at 3 p.m. Sunday, with Irish singer and storyteller Seamus Kennedy. It’s a fundraiser for the Caritas Scholarship for St. John’s College students in need, with tickets starting at $45.

If you’re still standing at 8 p.m., The High Kings perform at Rams Head on Stage.

The Irish folk band’s Rocky Road Tour follows their inclusion on the soundtrack for “Sinners,” the 2025 movie up for Best Original Score at the Academy Awards.

The 5 p.m. show was sold out as of Wednesday, and seats for the later performance were in short supply. Admission starts at $60, plus taxes and fees.

Here are some other great things to do through March 11.

Every breath

8 p.m. Thursday

Colonial Players debuts its production of “City of Angels,” a satirical musical based on the film noir genre.

Premiering on Broadway in 1988, the show includes the songs “With Every Breath I Take” and “You Can Always Count on Me.” It follows the story of a bookish writer of detective novels and his protagonist, a hard-boiled detective.

The spring musical cast includes Nathanael Quay as the writer, Stine, and Luke Tudball as his creation, Stone. Other cast members include Aiden Abraham, Brian Binney, Melinda Brown, Kasey Calligan, Adam Conklin, Kelly Gilmore, Taylor Hinds, Christian Hudspeth, Dillon McCarrick, Erica Miller and Marela Kay Minosa.

The show runs through March 28, with performances at 8 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. matinees on select Sundays.

Admission is $28, plus taxes and fees. Discounts for seniors, students and active military are available.

On Exhibit

9 a.m. Friday

Marisa Evangelista, the Openshaw artist-in-residence at Maryland Hall, debuts two bodies of work and a selection of additional pieces in the Martino Gallery.

“Elegies from the Voyage” and “Beyond the Chrysalis” are open to the public from 9 to 5 p.m. weekdays. Admission is free.

An opening reception is set from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Admission is free.

Books on the roll

10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday

Salty Girl Books takes the old idea of a library on wheels and turns it into a mobile book store.

Co-owner Angie Parker will park her little turquoise van at 222 Severn Ave. in Eastport, joining the itinerate market Here. a pop up shop for a few hours of thriller and romance shopping.

It’s free to browse the curated selection of books, which are priced individually.

I Am Woman

2-4 p.m. Sunday

Five women artists will gather to talk about their works in a new exhibit, ROAR.

Alison Chase Radcliffe, Donna O’Neal, Kendyl Lawson, Marisa Evangelista and Nichole Leavy will talk to mark International Women’s Day at the AND Creative gallery.

Admission is free, but reservations are recommended.

Young guitarist

7-10 p.m. Monday

Performer Aiden Ewald will take the stage at Admiral’s Cup with his guitar.

The 2024 Towson University music graduate is an increasingly familiar voice on Annapolis stages, performing with the band Candy Rocks and other groups, as well as in solo shows at bars and restaurants.

Admission is free.

Jazz nights

6:30-9:30 p.m. Wednesday

When Dave and Diane Rey bought the historic Reynolds Tavern building in 2024, they brought in Sally Boyett to operate the restaurant and basement pub.

Boyett, whose Classic Theatre of Maryland stages outdoor performances every summer on the patio, has launched a weekly pub series of Jazz Night performances featuring a mainstay of local music, the Unified Jazz Ensemble.

The group features Mike Noonan, John Pineda, Tim Stanley and Todd Harrison.