One of the biggest party days of the year is almost here! On St. Patrick’s Day (and the weekends before and after!), Manayunk becomes a sea of green as partiers don their shamrocks and raise a glass (or a few) to the holiday. With nearly every bar along Main Street and beyond going green for the occasion, it can be hard to find an authentic spot to celebrate St. Patty’s—but luckily your The Isle apartment is right near one spot where you can find genuine Irish culture, food, drink and fun.

The Commodore John Barry Arts & Cultural Center has been a mainstay in the area for more than 60 years. It was founded to promote Irish culture and music and, over the years, has hosted lectures about Irish history and current events, performances from local Irish dancers and musicians straight from Dublin, and lots of networking events to help connect the local Irish-American community and its allies. And, of course, when St. Patrick’s Day rolls around, the organization—also dubbed the Irish Center—goes all out (and it’s all less than 3 miles from your The Isle apartment in nearby Germantown)!

This year, the spot will host several days of events to celebrate the holiday, such as:

March 7: The Dublin City Ramblers, considered one of Dublin’s best ballad and folk groups, will take over the center.

March 12: Next up is a show by Paul Byrom, Ireland’s premier young tenor and a former member of the renowned Celtic Thunder.

March 15: After Philadelphia’s big St. Patrick’s Day parade in Center City, head back to Manayunk for the Irish Center’s annual after-party, complete with authentic Irish food and drinks.

March 21: For four generations, this music-loving Irish family has toured the world, and now the youngest generation is bringing its interpretation of Celtic music to our neck of the woods.

So break out the beads and get ready to celebrate St. Paddy’s in Philly! 

Commodore John Barry Arts & Cultural Center

6815 Emlen St.

Philadelphia, PA 19119

215-843-8051