And in the middle is a holiday associated with merry drinking and a centuries-old religious figure: St. Patrick's Day. Monday, March 17, is the holiday to celebrate everything Irish, including St.

St. Patrick's Day observations have taken many forms over the years, but the parade has consistently been the most popular. In 1874, The Dispatch reported on three evenings of St. Patrick’s Day entertainment: the Opera House, the ball at City Hall and the “grand parade."

St. Patrick's Day, the day so many adults excitedly wake up to with two things on their mind: dusting off a green article of clothing and drinking green beer (maybe a shot or two of Irish whiskey, too).