St. Patrick's Day a Lengthy Night Out

Thursdays are normally just one day shy of the big weekend parties in Carlsbad Village, but this year’s St. Patrick’s Day brought the party early—and all day long.

From their socks to their sunglasses to their shot-glass necklaces, partygoers donned all shades of green and hit the streets, crowding venues, grooving to Irish jigs and drinking their fair share of Guinness and Harp.      

For some Irish-themed venues, such as local bars and pubs, lines trailed out of doors as early as 2 p.m.

“It is the busiest day of the year, hands down,” said pub manager Terry Matthews during a phone interview before the big day. Matthews said this would be her 13th St. Patrick’s Day at .

“As far as peoplewise, it’s 10 times the amount of what we would normally get, even on a Friday night. I never even went into Irish bars until I started working here, and I am amazed,” she said. 

Staff members at other Irish pubs and bars also said their venues hit capacity and remain packed throughout the night.

At O‘Sullivan’s around 7 p.m., San Marcos resident Kim Thomas waited in line with a friend for well over 30 minutes before paying the cover and walking into the bar.

“We were hoping to find some green beer because it is the only time of the year you can have green beer,” Thomas said.

Many venues dug into the Irish theme in their menus and drink lists, and waitresses at each balanced trays of corned beef and cabbage, potatoes, and shepherd’s pie while weaving through walkways cramped with jutting elbows and feet. Some bars, including the Coyote Bar & Grill, served up drinks tinged with a neon green.

Carlsbad resident Nate Geiser spent much of his time at the bar’s crowded patio, his T-shirt and thermal paired with a smart plaid blue kilt, complete with his own shiny black sporran.

The outfit came out of a bachelor party three years ago, and it stuck.

“We decided that on St. Patrick’s Day and special days, we would wear kilts,” Geiser said. “It is definitely an attention-getter.”

William Cody Carter, the friend that dreamed up the kilt tradition, is a big fan of the holiday.

“It gives me a chance to celebrate my heritage. It gives me a chance to be with those who appreciate it, and that makes me proud,” he said.    

The night had a few rocky moments, with at least one bar outburst. At one bar, a patron burst through the doors, followed by a team of bouncers. Onlookers started murmuring of a fight, but soon after, the young man was kicked out.

“I just want to get my wallet,” the man said at the entrance. “Get out of here, or you are done,” one bouncer said.

Ending her time at around 10 p.m., Nicole Jolliffe waited with a friend. They had just exited the bar and were waiting on another woman.

The three women wore party outfits, and the only sign of green they wore were the entrance bracelets the bouncers gave them at the door, claiming their reason was to look good for a friend’s birthday.  

“We waited for 40 minutes,” Jolliffe said about how much time they spent in line.

Around 7 p.m., Hennessey’s line trailed down the street, and by 10 p.m. the crowd was far from dying down though a few other venues were petering out.

Jolliffe and her friends left to end their night, but for those waiting in line, the party had yet to begin.