Music City Irish Fest & Irish Network Nashville Announce the Nashville Shamrock Celebration (March 1st to 22nd)
Music City Irish Fest and Irish Network Nashville present the "Nashville Shamrock Celebration," beginning March 1st and running through March 22nd with special events to highlight St. Patrick's Day weekend.
Nashville Shamrock Celebration highlights more than 200 years of traditions as Nashville was founded by Scots-Irishmen, John Donelson and James Robertson, with Irish immigrants building the stone bridge across the Cumberland River in 1819.
One of Nashville Shamrock Celebration's goals is to continue to raise awareness of the city's rich music history, which came by way of Scots-Irish immigrants who settled in the Appalachian Mountains, bringing their songs and tunes with them. Over time, these styles became what we now know as bluegrass, folk, and country music.
The nearly month-long festivities kick off on Saturday, March 1st and continue through Saturday, March 22nd. Highlight moments include the "Tourism Ireland Global Greening," a worldwide collaboration resulting in iconic international sites "going green" for the St. Patrick's Day holiday, and St. Philip's Catholic Church's "St. Patty's Day Party" offering a full Irish meal with Irish dancers and benefiting local charities.
Two high profile events will take place on Saturday, March 15th: The Official Nashville St. Patrick's Day Parade, and Irish music and dance featured on the Grand Ole Opry stage. Irish Nashville Network's "Official Nashville St. Patrick's Day Parade" takes place on Saturday, March 15 at 10 AM and starts at Woodland Ave in Five Points, East Nashville. A kid's zone and celebrations at East Nashville businesses will follow the parade. In 2024 more than 1,500 gathered to experience live Irish music and show off their green! Later that day, The Grand Ole Opry will feature an Irish lineup including Nashville Irish Step Dancers and acclaimed Irish artist, Niall McCabe, who performed last year at Your Roots Are Showing in Dundalk, County Louth.
Through the month, venues (listed below) will feature guest artists celebrating Irish music and cultural experiences. Artists include (with more to be added): A Taste of Ireland, Chloë Agnew, Clare Cunningham, Dervish, Jessica Willis Fisher, JigJam, Máiréad Nesbitt, Nashville Irish Step Dancers (NISD), Niall McCabe, On The Lash, Sean McNamara, Southern Legacy, Tėada, The Celts, The Sternwheelers, Tim O’Brien and more.
Music City Irish Fest Venues:
- ANALOG
- City Winery
- Country Music Hall of Fame
- Friends in Low Places
- Grand Ole Opry
- Harken Hall
- Listening Room Cafe
- McNamara’s Irish Pub
- East Nashville Beer Works
- Station Inn
- St. Philip's Catholic Church
- Sumner County Irish Festival
- Tennessee Feis
- The Capitol Theatre
- The Franklin Theatre
- The Lost Paddy
- The Pub
- Tennessee Performing Arts Center
- Williamson County Performing Arts Center
+ more to be added
About Music City Irish Fest:
Music City Irish Fest 2025 (Mar. 1-22) will be a celebration of Nashville’s Irish roots like never before! Venues all across the city will be participating in the "wearing of the green" and presenting Irish music, dance, food and beverages to transport you to the Emerald Isle. Check out www.musiccityirishfest.com for everything you need to know to celebrate St. Patrick's Day Nashville-style, whether you are Irish… or wish you were!
About Irish Network Nashville:
The Irish Network Nashville, affiliated with Irish Network USA and supported by the Government of Ireland Emigrant Support Programme, creates new opportunities for members to connect, professionally and socially, with the dynamic Irish and Irish-American diaspora through business, cultural, and community events. INN is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization responsible for reviving a beloved parade tradition in Nashville after a nineteen year hiatus.
