Irish You Were Already Here, See You Soon!
St. Patrick’s Day Weekend in Essex County this year goes far beyond the usual green beer and plastic shamrocks. This St. Paddy’s Day Weekend, Essex County is going full clover-to-the-wall! Yup, we’re soooo going to be that person! From live Irish music performed by internationally recognized artists to goat yoga at a craft brewery, we have assembled a genuinely impressive weekend lineup. Additionally, whether you’re celebrating with the whole fam, hunting for a hands-on craft experience, or simply looking for a great taproom to raise a glass, Essex County delivers, and your weekend is locked in before the leprechauns get a chance to find your gold. May the luck of Essex County be with you!
Feeling Hoppy? Find Your St. Paddy’s Day Pints
Before we get into the shenanigans, let’s address a lucky part of any St. Paddy’s Day weekend: where you’re raising your glass. Essex County’s craft beverage scene is shamrock-solid — Korean-inspired ales, Massachusetts hard cider, Czech lagers so crisp they’ll make you weep a single green tear. All are family-friendly, including dogs! Start here. Thank us later.
AAPI-owned and proudly weird, featuring wildly creative Korean-inspired ales — Chai Stout, Five Spice Wheat, and a rotating tap list unlike anything else in Essex County. Come in, saying sham-rock on. You will forget to leave. That’s a St. Paddy’s promise.
Not a beer person? We apple-aud your choices. Far From The Tree pours hard cider from 100% local
apples – dry-hopped, botanical, and always-rotating. The apple of Essex County’s eye with seven taps and a Salem vibe that turns one cider into a very happy afternoon.
Family-owned, community-obsessed, and pouring gluten-reduced craft beers from a stunning 1884 shoe factory in Beverly — the most craic per square foot in Essex County this St. Paddy’s weekend. Add Goat Yoga AND Texas Pastrami to the mix and officially it’s a full St. Paddy’s Day miracle. We are not kidd-ing around.
Jeff and Rob built this Peabody taproom pint by pint from pure stubbornness and heart and grit, right down to the three-foot trench they dug by hand for power. Classic styles, creative seasonals, and this St. Paddy’s weekend, head brewer Jeff is leading a Guided Beer Tasting. That stool has your name on it.
Triple decoction brewing, a Czech-imported draft system, and lagering times that put the patience of a saint to shame — Notch brews Czech and German lagers so crisp and authentic, you’ll half expect a leprechaun to forget his gold and switch to lager. Grab a Czech Pils, claim your spot in the South River biergarten, and try to top it. Irish you luck with that.
Create Your Own Shamrock Crawl: Couch Dog, Far From The Tree, and Notch are all in Salem. These breweries are also part of the Salem Brewery Crawl in April. Chain them into one golden afternoon — the greatest St. Paddy’s Day story you’ll tell all year.
Still thirsty for more? Of course, the pints don’t stop there. Essex County is home to a full lineup of cafes, bars, taverns, and restaurants ready to pour you something green, something cold, and something worth raising a glass over. Find your next watering hole in our Eat, Drink & Stay Directory — where every door is open, all are welcome, and St. Paddy’s Day lasts as long as you want it to. Sláinte.
Something for Every Shade of Green in Essex County
Buckle up, because Essex County is not holding back this St. Paddy’s Day. We’re talking magical kids’ adventures, hands-on craft workshops that produce genuinely impressive souvenirs, live music from world-class performers, and food and drink events so magically delicious, you’ll be green with envy if you miss them. Whether you’re celebrating loud and proud, like you found the pot of gold, quietly crafting, tiny-human-in-tow, or happily parked on a barstool – there’s something here with your name on it and no lucky charm required.
Family Fun: St. Paddy’s Day for the Pint-Sized
St. Patrick’s Day Trolley Adventure — All Aboard the Clover Express
The Good Witch of Salem’s rainbow is missing, her magic is fading, and only your pint-sized adventurers can crack the case. Trolley through downtown Salem solving riddles, brewing potions, and hunting clues – kids earn a reward straight from the Leprechaun’s golden stash.
Leprechaun Spa Day — Pot of Glow
Lucky potion mixing, sparkly manicures, whimsical hair magic, and enough glitter to power a small enchanted forest. The Good Witch’s Spell Studio is unrolling the green carpet for your tiny VIPs. Reserve before this pot of gold disappears.
Leprechaun Trap Workshop — The Snare o’ the Green
Does your kid think they’re smarter than a leprechaun? Admirable. Optimistic. Let’s find out. Junior masterminds build their own traps using craft supplies and maximum cunning. The leprechauns have a thousand-year head start. Your kid has sheer determination. May the best trickster win.
Make Something Brilliant — Crafts for Clover Achievers
St. Patrick’s Cookie Decorating — Icing to Meet You
Green icing, shamrock sprinkles, zero skill required, maximum sugar encouraged. Perfect for every age. You’ll leave with edible art, a very full stomach, and shamrockingly zero regrets.
Sandblasting Pint Glass Workshop — Etch Your Own Luck
Stencil your design, sandblast it into glass, and walk away with a custom frosted pint that survives every dishwasher cycle forever. Shamrocks, clovers, your initials — the glass is half full. Make it fully yours.
Fused Glass Rainbows & Shamrocks — End of the Rainbow, Found It
Arrange vibrant glass into rainbows and shamrocks, fuse them into something genuinely beautiful, and take it home the same day. Beginner-friendly, wall-worthy, and far more satisfying than any pot of gold.
Blown Glass Pint Glasses + Sandblasting — A Pane in the Best Way
Blow your own pint glass from molten glass with your own breath, then sandblast it with shamrocks and clovers. The most impressive craft brag in Essex County this weekend — possibly ever. Perfect gift. Perfect keepsake. Peak St. Paddy’s energy.
Fiddle Me This – Music, Dancing & Pure Uncut Craic
Trad Session Feat. the Cast of ONCE — Live and Let Irish
The cast of ONCE performs live Irish pub songs and ballads — raw, joyful, entirely the real thing. Not a DJ. Not a playlist. The only correct way to kick off a St. Paddy’s weekend.
North Shore River Dancing & Live Irish Music — Jig or Go Home
The Fiddle Hill Band live. River dancing. Step dancers in full flight. Special food and drinks in the Speakeasy Cellar. The energy will be electric from first reel to last. Wear green. Dance with strangers. No further instructions needed.
Irish Step Dancing with Allie Delfranco & Her Leprechauns — Toe-tally Sláinte 
High-energy, big-smile Irish step dancing that’ll leave you humbled, inspired, and very glad you came. Throw on your finest green and let the rhythm do the rest.
Máiréad Nesbitt — The Fiddle at the End of the Rainbow
International Irish violin star Máiréad Nesbitt performs live with the Jordan Tirrell-Wysocki Trio. Soul-stirring, spine-tingling, and genuinely a ‘I was there’ moment for Essex County. Do not miss this one.
May Your Glass Be Full & Your Plate Even Fuller: Eat, Drink & Be Merry
St. Patrick’s Guided Beer Tasting — Ale’s Well That Ends Well
Head brewer Jeff at Granite Coast Brewing walks you through a curated seasonal flight — stories, flavor profiles, a premium pour, and an extra 5oz of your choice. Walk out with beer knowledge AND a happy buzz. Sláinte, professor.
Texas Pastrami Sammies at Gentile Brewing — Stack o’ the Irish
Hill Country Market rolls into Gentile Brewing with Texas pastrami stacked with reckless generosity. Pair with a cold craft beer. Wonder why you ever messed with corned beef.
Shamrock Goat Yoga + Beers — Namaste in Essex County Forever 
Yoga. Actual goats. Cold craft beer at Gentile Brewing. The goats will climb on your mat, critique your downward dog, and make every second of it completely worth it. No bad times at goat yoga — established St. Paddy’s Day fact. Baaa-namaste.
Still chasing the rainbow? Of course you are — and we’ve got more pots of gold waiting. Essex County is jam-packed with adventures and new experiences to get out and get together just waiting to be discovered. From our many markets to arts festivals to new exhibits to craft workshops and delicious seasonal faves, there’s a whole calendar of reasons to explore this county, support local, and show up for your community. Find your next great night out in our Essex County Events Calendar — where something brilliant is always just around the bend.
One weekend, one county, and more to discover than you can fit into a single day. Stick around — we are here all year, and so is Essex County at its very best.
St. Paddy’s Day is just one reason to love Essex County. There are 364 more waiting for you.
This story comes from the Creative Collective community.
Essex County businesses who believe when we thrive together, our whole region becomes more vibrant. We’re entrepreneurs, creators, and service providers across all industries, collaborating to build the community we want to be part of. If you see your business as more than just commerce — as a way to contribute to our regional ecosystem — you belong here. Discover how to join our community →
Couch Dog Brewing Co. | Craft Brewery
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Welcome! We are an AAPI-owned microbrewery and taproom based in downtown Salem, MA. Our focus is on fun, aromatic, and Asian-inspired ales, and we aim to bring some diverse and exciting flavors to Massachusetts’ thriving craft beer scene. Like many, we started home brewing in our kitchen. We love experimenting with ingredients like perilla and persimmon, and are excited to
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