Written by: Renate Engelbrecht
Parades and festivals will be taking place across the globe on 17 March 2026 as people celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. Some will opt to wear green, whilst others will consume Irish food and drink and, in some places, rivers will even be dyed green and landmarks will be lit with impressive green lights. In Pretoria, we’ll be celebrating St. Patrick’s Day a little differently, while still enjoying some St. Paddy’s traditions along the way.
Shepherd’s Pie – A Common St. Patrick’s Day Tradition
Dating back to the 18th century, Shepherd’s Pie is a traditional St. Patrick’s Day dish and an Irish delicacy. In South Africa, it’s also not a bad dish to kick autumn off with. In fact, it’s quite a hearty meal that people have come to love across the globe. So, why not prepare a Shepherd’s Pie for St. Patrick’s Day this year?
Making the Most of Pub Culture
If you’d rather head out, perhaps consider a pub crawl in Pretoria. Shamrocks in Pretoria North is the perfect place to start with it being an Irish restaurant and pub where good friends meet to eat, drink and be Irish. In addition, we absolutely love Lucky Rodrigo Restaurant and Bar on the corner of The Hillside Street and Alpine Way. Rafters Pub on the corner of Garsfontein Road and Blesbok Street is another great option, as is Tipsy Cow. Jock of the Bushveld Pub & Restaurant also offers some great specials and Die Buffel Pub & Grill in the Moot area is also worth checking out.
Biggy - St. Parrow’s Day
Featuring Jack Parow, PHFAT, Van PLetzen, Loufi and Biggy, the fourth St. Parow’s Day – hosted at Padstal in Pretoria and sponsored by Guinness – promises to be a great start to the St. Patrick’s Day celebrations. Taking place on 14 March 2026, Biggy will be bringing that feel-good vibe to Padstal on Highway Street in Equestria. Book your tickets HERE.
Capital Craft’s St. Patrick Day Celebrations
Whilst we’re all about celebrating St. Patrick’s Day beyond the traditional beer, we can’t not mention Capital Craft’s St. Paddy’s celebrations. They’ll be serving green beer, stouts, Paddy shot specials, hearty stout pies and Irish music between 17 and 22 March this year, so pull in and be part of the fun. We recommend booking a table in advance to prevent disappointment. Reservations can be made on WhatsApp.
Website: www.capitalcraft.co.za
WhatsApp: 081 877 6924
Instagram: Capital Craft PTA
VOX Bar Choir
Vox Chamber Choir – an international ensemble from South Africa – was founded by Franco Prinsloo and they’ve won numerous SAMA and Aitsa Music Awards. They’re bringing Bar Choir back with a St. Patrick’s Day-inspired performance on the rooftop of the Moonshot Café in Waterkloof Glen on 20 March 2026. Expect one iconic song, hundreds of voices, zero auditions and easygoing, green-tinged vibes. Just picture it: an open rooftop in Pretoria, voices rising into the evening air and a bar choir experience that’s all about connection, energy and singing for the sheer fun of it. Tickets start at R120 per person online and there will also be tickets at the door (subject to availability). Book online HERE.
St. Picnic Club
On 8 March, St. Patrick’s Picnic Club landed with an impressive line-up at Fort Schanskop in Pretoria. Get ready for a fun Sunday session under the trees with live performances by Zaan Sonnekus, Black Cat Bones, Simeon Kriel, BCOM, No Closure and DJ Michael Lesar. Kids are welcome at the Clamber Club – available on site with a dedicated, supervised play area with fun, active entertainment. Tickets for the St. Picnic Club are available through Quicket.
Whether you’d like to explore Irish flavours by preparing your own Shepherd’s Pie or by pub-hopping through Pretoria, make this year’s St. Patrick’s Day yet another reason to celebrate life!
