Get your shamrocks out the week before St. Patrick’s Day this year with Shamrock the Block, the giant block party on the Boulevard that drew roughly 40,000 people last year. Brown Distributing will be pouring Bud Light, Murphy’s Irish Stout, Heineken, Bold Rock Cider and many craft beers from the Scott’s Addition neighborhood. Food options this year include Carytown Burgers & Fries, Buffalo Wild Wings, Happy Empanada, and many more. Expect music from bands Totally Random and Redneck Pool Party as well. Noon to 6 p.m. On the Boulevard from Leigh to Broad streets. Free entry, pay as you go.

Shockoe Bottom will be celebrating St. Patrick’s Day with a family-friendly festival at the 17th Street Farmer’s Market. There will be Irish dancers, pipes and drums, and music from The Gold Sauce. Beer trucks will be pouring Guinness, Harp, Smithwick’s, Irish cider and Miller Lite. The Richmond Sausage Company will be serving bratwurst, the Halligan Bar & Grill will be dishing up BBQ, fish n’ chips and Memphis chicken, and Old City Bar will be doing ham and potato soup and smoked brisket sliders. There will also be kid-friendly activities like face painting. Stop by Rosie Connolly’s for their back lot party during the Bash with Irish dancers, The Sutor Brothers, The Cary Street Ramblers Bar. Last year, roughly 5,000 attended. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. 100 N. 17th St. Free entry, pay as you go.