St. Patrick’s Day is approaching, and it’s never too early to start planning out where to go for festive food & drinks. Here are a few ideas to get you going:

Cherry Cricket (2641 E 2nd Ave, Denver www.cherrycricket.com) will kick off its St. Patrick’s Day menu on Saturday, March 14 with Corned Beef and Cabbage and an Irish Mushroom soup. They will also have live Irish music entertainment with different bands starting at 1 p.m. with the Colorado Youth Pipe Band, Conivan at 3 p.m., Celtic Steps Dancers at 4 p.m. Centennial State Bag Pipes & Drums at 5 p.m. and the Denver & District Bag Pipes, Drums & Dancers will perform at 7 and 9 p.m. On Tuesday, March 17 they will serve up the Corned Beef and Cabbage and their Irish Beef Stew, made with Guinness. Entertainment with Denver & District Bag Pipes, Drums & Dancers will be at 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. and Conivan will perform at 8 and 10 p.m. For more information, call (303) 322-7666.

Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with an elevated Irish menu and plenty of beer at Cook Street School of Culinary Arts on Tuesday, March 17^th from 6:00 p.m.–9:30 p.m.  They’re putting an Irish spin on our popular Bites N’ Brews class where they’ll talk about how to cook with beer as well as how to pair it with the menu. You’ll learn how to make pan seared scallops with morels, cream and fresh herbs; country style lamb, cheddar and Ale Pie; fresh cabbage salad with whole grain mustard vinaigrette, crème fraiche and pickled shallots and finish with Guinness ice cream with toasted Barmbrack and Irish Whiskey Caramel. Enjoy the meal you helped prepare at the end of class along with a selection of beers, $89 per person. Cook Street School of Culinary Arts is located at 1937 Market Street in Denver. Visit www.cookstreet.com for more information.

Session Kitchen (1518 S. Pearl Street http://www.sessionkitchen.com) will celebrate the Irish holiday with a special dish of corned beef and cabbage buns. These tasty items are similar to the ever popular brisket buns from the creative Session Kitchen menu. The featured St. Patrick’s Day dish will be available from Friday, March 13th through Tuesday, March 17th.

Punch Bowl Social (65 Broadway http://punchbowlsocial.com/) is offering both food and drinks to share the Irish Luck. OnTuesday, March 17th try a $5 Guinness, Car Bomb or Jameson. Punch Bowl Social’s Chef Grimm, who is also a first generation Irish-American, has created a traditional Dublin Coddle, a stew with rashers (aka Irish bacon), bangers, onions, Yukon potatoes, and carrots and a special Irish Porridge with steel cut oats, apples, brown sugar and peach cobbler.

On Tuesday, March 17th head over to Stout Street Social (1400 Stout Street http://www.stoutstsocial.com/) to try some Irish Point Oysters with the traditional Irish drink of Guinness. Celebrate the day with 1/2 dozen of these unique oysters plus a pint of Guinness for $20.

At Argyll Whisky Beer (1035 E 17th Ave – www.argylldenver.com), come in any day this month and benefit from Argyll’s expertise as you enjoy a carefully combined flight of Irish whiskies, complete with explanations and descriptions, beautifully served on a wooden tray. In addition to the town’s best celtic-flavored regular menu items, Argyll is offering a Corned Beef & Cabbage special for the saint’s day, as well as on Parade Day (Saturday 14th).  The traditional dish will also feature the rustic housemade mustard and Irish soda bread studded with currants.  In addition to the usual suspects behind the bar, Argyll will offer for St. Patrick’s Day a version of the traditional Tipperary cocktail, with green chartreuse and Irish whiskey.

Humboldt Farm, Fish & Wine (1700 Humboldt Street – www.humboldtrestaurant.com) Executive Chef DJ Nagle is turning traditional Irish dishes, literally, upside down with his Upside Down Shepherd’s Pie.  Featuring potato puree and a braised Colorado lamb stew with mirepoix, Chef DJ adds depth of flavor with Guinness stout and garnishes with bright buttered peas.  Get this dish while you can; it’s served all day for lunch and dinner on St. Patrick’s Day.  Pair Chef’s special with an ice-cold beer or warm up with Humboldt’s Irish Coffee: a base of Irish Jameson and earthy Lavazza coffee topped with a Bailey’s Irish Cream froth.

ViewHouse (2015 Market Street and 7101 S. Clinton Street, Centennial – www.viewhouse.com) is extending the celebrations over four days. Down south at the Centennial venue, Irish dancers tap it out alongside an appearance by a real leprechaun and pot of gold raffle. Both locations will be offering fresh takes on traditional cuisine for the Irish Weekend (Thursday – Tuesday), including a soup of Guinness Irish cheddar potato with bacon, the house-cured corned beef and cabbage entree served with root vegetables and Irish soda bread. Or try the Lamb Shepherd’s Pie, featuring Colorado lamb and a white cheddar potato crust.

The largest St. Patrick’s Day party in Denver is back at Fadó Irish Pub, in the heart of Lodo. Serving thousands of customers at its festivities last year, the 17th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Party is sure to top that number this year.  Running from March 14th – March 17th, the party will surely bring out the Irish in all! On Saturday March 14th, Fadó is THE place to be as it sets up the big stage (and heated tents) for an all day, all night bash. Doors open at 7:00 a.m. for European sports including 6 Nations Rugby and English Premier League soccer, while the pub offers a full brunch menu and traditional Irish fare. The outdoor party, suitable for all ages from 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., includes a full line-up of live music, Irish dancers and bagpipers.  The wee ones will enjoy face painting, games and a bouncy house, while the adults will celebrate in the beer garden, bars, food trucks and more! The Tullamore Dew signature cocktail, served in a “flexible flask” called “Paddys Day Fun Bags” will also be featured! And, on Tuesday, March 17, doors will open at 10 a.m. kicking off another full day of festivities with live music and more! Tickets are available online now with multiple options to save.

St Patrick’s Day 2015 is not just a day at Fadó Irish Pub, its a season. Here’s what to expect during Denver’s most anticipated St. Paddy’s celebration this March:

GEEKS WHO DRINK PUB QUIZ AND MAGNERS PROMO, Thursday, March 12 at 8:00 p.m. – An annual event that will test your knowledge of all things Irish! The Magners Girls will be on hand with giveaways and a photo booth!  Great Pub Quiz prizes are offered including a high/low rolling jacket cash prize for the winners (on top of their bragging rights!). Always free to play.

St Baldrick’s Charity Event, Friday, March 13 from 10:00 a.m through 7:00p.m.– An annual head-shaving event where the community raises money and awareness to help fight children’s cancer. Fun Fact: “craic” is an Irish term meaning good times,” so we like to always say that this event is “great craic for a great cause”.  We have a $400,000 fundraising goal and over 100+ shavees signed up so far. Go here and find out how you can participate and donate to the cause. Doors open at 9:00 a.m.

Largest Outdoor Block Party in Denver at Fadó in Lodo, Saturday, March 14 – Doors open at 7.00 a.m. for European sports, English Premier League and 6 Nations Rugby.  Limited brunch menu available when doors open until 11:00a.m. and limited menu from 11:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.  The Outdoor Block Party at Fadó adjacent to Coors Field begins at 10 a.m. and goes through close. It’s a full day and night of cocktail and beer stations, traditional Irish food, live bands and more. Bring the wee ones ‘til 4:00 p.m. for face painting, games, bouncy house and more!  Live music starts at 11:00 a.m., with the last band taking the stage at 9:30 p.m.. Acts include The Clancy’s, The Indulgers (in the afternoon AND the evening) and That Eighties Band.  Plus entertainment from Irish Dancers and bagpipers will be featured throughout the day!   Cover starts at 10:00 a.m.  21+ after 4 p.m. $20 on the door.

Runnin’ of the Green, Sunday, March 15, 9:00 a.m. – To raise a pint to the participants of the 27th Annual Runnin’ of the Green 7K race, Fadó will open at 9:00 a.m., serving  corned beef and bagels from Shamrock Foods, as well as the full Fadó menu.  Race watchers can sip on the featured Killians Irish Red and snack on the full pub menu featured before, during and after the race, while their fleet o’ foot brethren take to the streets.

Traditional Irish Session, Monday, March 16, 8:00 p.m. – To celebrate St. Patrick’s Day Eve, Fadó will host local musician, John Mullen performing acoustic versions of traditional Irish tunes.  For the purists, this event is not to be missed.  Of course, new musicians are always welcome to join in the fun!

St Patrick’s Day, Tuesday, March 17 – Doors open at 10 a.m. for great food, beer and music all day!. Full menu, including traditional Irish fare like corned beef and cabbage, is available.  All ages are welcome until 2:00 p.m., when the music begins for the 21+ set.  Party-goers will hear an encore performance of The Clancy’s, The Indulgers and Big Paddy as well as step dancers and bagpipers performing throughout the day.  Tickets available in advance and on the door.

Advance tickets are on sale now for March 14 and March 17, 2015, with discount options to save.

Door cover: $20 cover on March 14th and $10 cover on March 17th. 21 and over restrictions are noted throughout the special events.

Special Party Pack Bundles available for tickets of 4 or more: http://www.altitudetickets.com/event-groups/fado-irish-pub-st-patrick-s-day/