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If you were to create a Venn diagram where one circle was labeled "cheap" and the other labeled "awesome", the middle point where they cross over could be labeled "Vancouver on the Cheap". In other words, this is a weekly series on things to do and places to go in Vancouver that fall into that magical category of being both cheap and awesome. |
Tomorrow is the big day: the day to wear green and drink some beer. It's a wonderful holiday that should be celebrated by all.
Unfortunately, like with all holidays, most merchants know how to capitalize on it. For me the worst part of St. Patrick's Day has always been the fact that every pub in town feels totally justified in popping a $10-20 cover charge just to sit down and have a pint with your friends. Sure, there's often a band or two, and maybe some kids dressed vaguely like leprechauns dancing around, but it's really pretty half-assed if you ask me, and certainly not worth the extra coin.
There are things you can do to celebrate the big day on the cheap, however! For example: CelticFest!
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The CelticFest is a multi-day festival of all things Celtic. Lots of traditional music, lessons, and yep, some drinking. And most of it is FREE!
Lunchtime Concert - TODAY at 12pm (free!)
Pacific Theatre presents a free concert at Georgia & Granville Street featuring Vazzy, a musical duo known for playing awesome Irish, Acadian, and French-Canadian music that'll get the Riverdance impersonations going.
Workshops - Saturday, March 17th from 10am-on (free!)
From a "Groove it Up" Cello Workshop to the history of the bagpipe, you can spend some quality time learning various Celtic musical instruments, and learning is always fun, right? Okay, well maybe only to people like me who intentionally create learning projects purely for the sake of fun, but what can you do?
Concerts - Saturday, March 17th from 12pm-on (free!)
There are tons of concerts happening all day (just check the schedule), but the series presented by Shore 104.3FM is most exciting to me. They've got Nellie Quinn and Lea Kirstein at noon, Skellig at 1:30pm, Jocelyn Pettit Band at 3pm, and Mairi Rankin with Adrian Dolan and Jenny Ritter at 4:30pm.
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Magic by Travis Bernhardt - Saturday, March 17th at 1pm & 4pm (free!)
Okay, technically this is a kid's event, but a) a lot of awesome people have awesome kids and need awesome things to do with them, and b) this guy is amazing. Seriously. Sometimes we think we're too cool to experience the pure joy and wonder that comes from magic, but we're not.
Okay, now you may have noticed that most of the CelticFest events are during the day - or at least the free ones are. What to do in the evening? Well, my top choice is always the house party. I know, it's obvious, but let's be honest, house parties are always way better than club parties. You can come and go as you please, actually converse with your friends, and choose the music for your impromptu dance parties. Plus, you can bring a six-pack of your very own for less than the cost of cover. What's not to love?
If you absolutely must go out, I hate to say it, but going on the cheap likely means avoiding actual Irish pubs. I don't know of a single one that doesn't charge cover on the big day (although if you do, please share it in the comments!) Instead, try one of my general favourite places for a cheap drink: The Marquis, The Cambie, or Cafe Crepe.
Whatever you do, just don't forget the spirit of the day: yes, drinking is a part of it, but revel in the general spirit of fun and camaraderie that comes on this fine day. Everyone is your friend on St. Patrick's Day!
