St Patrick's Day event guide

If you're planning to spend your St Patrick's Day sitting in your local faux-Irish boozer, getting steadily drunk on Guinness 'chasers', then shame on you! There's plenty more exciting and genuinely Irish fun to be had to celebrate this year's March 17th, and what's more, loads of them are free...

The St Patrick's Day Parade
Taking place on Sunday 13 March is the official Paddy's Day parade, featuring a musical procession of marching bands, colourful floats, groups and schools. It starts at Hyde Park Corner from 12pm and will end up in Whitehall at around 3pm.

The Festival
There is so much going on in the capital this year, it's hard to know where to start! But all the action takes place on the Sunday, from 12-6pm. Stages in Trafalgar Square and Covent Garden will feature Irish music stars like The Saw Doctors, Jerry Fish and Fionn Regan. You can get a real taste of the Emerald Isle with Bord Bia Speciality Irish Food Market in Covent Garden — just think of soda bread, speciality cheeses and smoked salmon, all washed down with a pint of Guinness, natch. Leicester Square is boasting Irish music workshops, face painters, children's funfair and plenty of exciting stalls. Back over in Trafalgar Square there's also the Ireland Holiday Village, where exhibitors will be uncovering the charm of Ireland in the hope of getting you there for your next holiday!

Apart from the official weekend of celebrations, there's other events going on in the run-up to the big day. Wednesday 9 to Saturday 12 sees the Contemporary Irish Art Exhibition at two different venues in the capital, showcasing some truly dazzling work. Check out www.irishartinlondon.com for more details. The London Irish Centre on Camden Square, naturally, will be playing host to plenty of seasonal celebrations, too. Including many dinner-dances, live performances and entertainment, more information can be found on http://www.londonirishcentre.net. If this is all a bit too sedentary for you, then take in a Guided Walk: Irish Luminaries in London tour. You can pick from an AM or PM start, exploring London’s thrilling historical links with Ireland. For one day only, on 12 March, pre-booking is essential on 020 7983 5758.

Of course, this isn't an exhaustive list of the many and varied St Patrick's Day-themed events in the capital. For more information, visit http://www.londonstpatricksday.org.uk/.