The 41st annual St. Pat’s in Five Points, one of the Southeast’s largest St. Patrick’s Day festival, returns on Saturday, March 18, 2023 in Columbia, South Carolina.

More than 40 years ago, Duncan MacRae of Yesterday’s Restaurant & Tavern, Steve Gibson of Peddler Steak House, Chuck Pettit of the Columbia Jaycees and Tony Latella of PYA Monarch sat down in a booth at Yesterday’s Restaurant & Tavern, had a few beers and devised a plan to increase the visibility of Five Points’ businesses on St. Patrick’s Day when most people were leaving town for Savannah. The annual St. Pat’s in Five Points emerged forming a family fun-filled festival benefiting children’s charities in the Midlands.

St. Pat’s in Five Points welcomes approximately 30,000 attendees, ranging from children, families, college students and senior citizens, annually. More than 35% of St. Pat’s attendees from outside of Columbia, spanning 2,000 zip codes and over 30 counties.

Music has always been a central component and draw for the festival. The 2023 music line up will feature 20 bands across four stages — with headlining performances from Moon Taxi, Nate Smith, Drivin N Cryin and Hippo Campus. FatRat da Czar will return to be this year’s festival host.

In addition to the four stages of music, the events the community has come to know and love will return on March 18, including:

• Get to the Green 5K, 10K and 1-Mile Family Fun Run starts at 7:30 a.m. Registration is now open for Columbia’s largest road race.
• St. Pat’s Parade, a one-mile stretch starting on Devine Street and ending on Sims Avenue, starts at 10 a.m.
• Pot O’Gold Playland, a Kids’ Zone featuring balloon artists, magicians, carnival rides, inflatables and more, will be open from 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. in the 800 block of Harden Street.