Partiers can also carry alcohol on Atwells Avenue between Acorn Street and Garibaldi Square from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday through Saturday.

Providence will temporarily suspend its law prohibiting open containers on Dorrance and Empire streets between Fountain and Washington streets on Thursday and Friday from 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. and on Saturday from noon-11 p.m., mayoral spokesman Evan England said.

St. Patrick’s Day revelers in Providence will be able to openly drink alcohol in two popular parts of downtown this weekend, the city announced.

More than 20 restaurants and bars in the area will hold outside parties, England said. Carousers will have to carry their drinks in plastic containers as they travel through the streets.


“This is really about ensuring public safety and containing [the] party, not so much as encouraging it,” he said.

Providence’s Dunkin’ Donuts Center — located adjacent to the areas permitting open alcohol — is hosting the first and second rounds of the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship on Thursday and Saturday, but NCAA rules prohibit the sale of alcohol inside the arena, England said.

“We look forward to welcoming a good number of visitors to the city,” he said, “ and letting them see everything Providence has to offer.”

The city has made arrangements to handle traffic and address concerns that may arise throughout the weekend, England said, and the districts permitting open drinking will be carefully monitored through a mobile command center.

“Public safety will have an established presence throughout the course of this weekend,” he said.

J.D. Capelouto can be reached at jd.capelouto@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @jdcapelouto.