Paddy Fest announces Newcastle return with early bird tickets on sale now
Organisers have confirmed the return of Paddy Fest this March with plans for a huge party event that will run for longer and pack in all the Irish-theme staples, from music and dancing to free-flowing Guinness.
The annual Newcastle festival, which is focused around traditional St Patrick's Day celebrations, will be back in Times Square from March 13 and it will wrap up on the big day itself: March 17. And its centrepiece weekend will feature all the old favourites including a Super Saturday of live rugby action.
Last year Paddy Fest upped the ante with a longer run of four days but it now it has extended again, to five days, and thousands of people are expected to join the party inside the giant Paddy Fest marquee. The decorated 2,000-capacity venue will be hosting an array of live music, Irish dancing - along with revellers' own table dancing - plus singalongs and added extras of pro-am darts and the rodeo bull which made its debut at last year's festival.
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A pair of giant screens will be set up to show the EFL Cup Final and rugby Six Nations matches which will add to the atmosphere and the organisers are also promising confetti blasts, giveaways, dance-offs, stage games and prizes for the best fancy dress outfit. Nigel Holliday, one of the directors of Evnt Inspirations behind the Paddy Fest Weekender, said: “It’s our seventh year and it’s going to be our best yet."
In the run-up to its finale on St Patrick's Day, March 17 - the date that commemorates the patron saint of Ireland - will be three sports events in the heated marquee, starting with Let’s Play Darts XL on March 13, involving 30 pro-am players on a night of Irish music and dancing.
Following that will be Super Saturday's Italy v Ireland; Wales v England and France v Scotland matches on March 15 - the final day of the Six Nations tournament - then will come football on March 16 with the EFL Cup Final. Tickets for this event will be made available from February 5, following Newcastle United's final leg of the competition.
Tickets for other events are already on sale with discounts available for early booking. Nigel added: “The whole event will wrap up on St Patrick’s Day with the best craic you can have in 11 hours and an action-packed programme of entertainment.
“Expect plenty of Sweet Carolines, roaring 180s and more laughs than you can handle.” This final day - a 5pm-11pm celebration courtesy of party organiser Tropiloco -will offer free tickets to Irish people and it will feature live buskers, bands, stage games, a DJ singalong, jukebox and apparently "leprechauns running wild throughout the tent".
For Paddy Fest Weekender 2025 tickets see here. Those booking will be automatically entered into a prize draw to win all-day free drinks.