St. Patrick’s Day may not be a national holiday here in the U.S. like it is in Ireland, but it doesn’t seem to stop folks from celebrating. That could have something to do with the fact that about 34.5 million Americans claim Irish descent according to the U.S. Census. That’s seven times many more Irishmen than are living in Ireland today! So whether you are 99.3% Irish like me or just enough to claim heritage one day a year, here are some fun facts to help you celebrate in Lake Oswego.

1. Maher’s Pub will be hosting it eighth annual St. Patrick’s Day festival this year located at 352 B Avenue, Lake Oswego. 503.305.8087.

2. Over thirty percent of the 133 million Americans expected to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day plan to go to a bar or restaurant.

3. This year the St. Patrick’s Day festival at Maher’s in Lake Oswego will run Friday, March 17 through Saturday, March 18, beginning at 12:00 noon and ending when the last person walks out the door.

4. According to wallethub.com, revelers worldwide will put down 13 million pints of Guinness on St. Patrick’s Day.

5. You can be sure to find Guinness on tap at Maher’s in addition to Magner’s Irish Cider, Black and Tan (Pale Ale/Guinness) and domestic beers.

6. If you want a prosperous year, then “drown the shamrock,” as the Irish would say. Find a shamrock, float it on your shot of whiskey and then down the whole thing.

7. Maher’s offers lots of choices to go with your shamrock, listing 17 brands of Irish whiskey so take your pick! If drinking it straight isn’t to your liking, try a Dancing Leprechaun (Paddy’s whiskey, fresh muddled lemon, soda and ginger ale) or a perfectly blended Irish Coffee.

8. Despite what the refrigerated case in your local grocery store suggests, corned beef and cabbage is not the national dish that the Irish serve up on St. Patrick’s Day. Instead, it originated when Irish immigrants to the U.S. were looking for a more affordable way to recreate their comfort food from their homeland—boiled bacon. Beef brisket was the cheapest cut available and brining was a technique they borrowed from some of their Easter European neighbors.

9. National dish or not, you’ll find corned beef sandwiches on the Maher’s Pub menu during the St. Patrick’s Day festival as well as Bangers on Buns and Irish Stew.

10. Maher’s St. Patrick’s Day festival is a family friendly event with live music, Irish dancers and bagpipes until about 6:00 p.m. when it turns into an adults-only party.

If you’re like I once was and feel “green with envy” that others get to live in Lake Oswego and you don’t, give me a call at 503.939.9801. I’d love to show you around. You can also visit my website. You’ll see I’ve been helping people call Lake Oswego home for over 25 years. Put my experience to work for you!