A festivalgoer walks along Harden Street during a past St. Pat’s in Five Points.
File photo
The State
You can’t beat Five Points on St. Patrick’s Day.
It’s the biggest party in town, where people young, old and of varying degrees of sobriety gather for a day of music, fun and Irish revelry.
This year’s festival has a few new additions, as well as 18 bands performing throughout the day.
Below is a guide to everything you need to know about St. Pat’s. So read up, be prepared, and have a shamrockin’ good time.
SCHEDULE
7:30 a.m.: Get to the Green 5K, 10K and 1-mile family fun run. Races start at Maxcy Gregg Park, and the awards ceremony is at Martin Luther King Jr. Park.
9 a.m.: Festival gates open. Enter at Santee, Devine, Blossom, Greene and Harden streets.
10 a.m.: St. Pat’s Parade. The parade runs down Devine Street, starting in front of Earth Fare and Dreher High School in Shandon and ending in front of Hip Wa Zee and Food Lion in Five Points.
10 a.m.-6 p.m.: Pot O’ Gold Playland, for the little leprechauns to play, at Martin Luther King Jr. Park at Santee Avenue.
2-6 p.m.: Silent Disco. Dance it out on Santee Avenue.
Noon-7 p.m.: Musical entertainment. There are four stages where you can hear live music.
Crowds fill the streets to enjoy all things green during the annual St. Pat’s in Five Points celebration. File photo The State
NEW FOR 2016
Silent Disco: People dance to music using individual wireless headphones rather than music blasting from speakers. Listeners can adjust the volume and DJ channel to hear what suits them. It’s a kick for observers watching without music, too.
Get ready to get down with three sets of dueling DJs:
▪ 2 p.m. Guy L. vs. Dylan Deekay
▪ 3:25 p.m. Jade Frost vs. LUCiD
▪ 4:50 p.m. Bois Obscur vs. Killtrak
Food Truck Rodeo: If overpriced corn dogs aren’t your thing, this year’s festival will include a Food Truck Rodeo with additional food offerings. Pawley’s Front Porch, Size Matters BBQ Bus, Chirba Chirba Dumpling Truck and LowCountry Caribbean Creole will be operating from the parking lot on Harden Street that was formerly the Exxon gas station.
#StPatsinFivePoints Wall: Leave your mark on St. Pat’s by writing a memory or message on the #StPatsinFivePoints Wall at the 800 block of Harden Street.
Foxy Shazam riles up the crowd at a past St. Pat’s in Five Points. File photo The State
MUSIC HIGHLIGHTS
The Front Bottoms: Indie rock
The Movement: Reggae/rock
Brave Baby: Rock ’n’ roll
SUSTO: Progressive Americana
Drive-By Truckers: Alt. country
PARKING
A complimentary shuttle service will run to and from Capital City Stadium (8 a.m-8 p.m.), Lincoln Garage (9 a.m.-8 p.m.) and Hand Middle School (11 a.m.-8 p.m.). Parking in surrounding neighborhoods is prohibited.
Checker Yellow Cabs, the official festival transportation sponsor, gives you the first $10 of your fare home or to a hotel.
BATHROOMS
Public restrooms are at the festival entrance on Devine Street, adjacent to the Silent Disco on Santee Avenue and at both ends of Harden Street.
BEER
There will be two beer stands along Harden Street and one at the Five Points Fountain. Five Points bars will be open and pouring libations as well.
