Saint Patrick's Day Weekend

 

Kegs & Eggs Rally In The Alley

Saint Patrick’s Day happens every year on March 17 and is known for its parades, green outfits, shamrocks, and a lot of drinking. But originally, it was a religious holiday in Ireland celebrating Saint Patrick. Saint Patrick was Ireland’s patron saint and was a missionary who spread Christianity throughout Ireland in the 5th century. When Irish immigrants came to the U.S., the holiday changed into the huge celebration it is now.

Irish immigrants started moving to Baltimore in the late 1700s, but the biggest wave came in the mid-1800s, especially during and after the Great Irish Famine. Many left Ireland to escape starvation and poverty, and cities like Baltimore became a good option because of the growing industries and port jobs. By the late 1800s, there was a strong Irish community in Baltimore. Specifically, in Locust Point, where many worked on the docks or in factories. Today, the city still celebrates Irish heritage with events like the St. Patrick’s Day Parade and historic Irish neighborhoods and churches.

One of the biggest events for college students in in Baltimore's Inner Harbor district is the Kegs & Eggs Rally at PowerPlant Live!

The Experience

Kegs & Eggs is exactly what it sounds like. It's a morning drinking event in honor of Saint Patrick's Day. The second you step onto the street, you can feel the energy circulating through the air. A wave of green floods every corner, from shamrock sunglasses, four-leaf clover beaded necklaces, and as much green clothing as you can imagine.

It runs from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., and you need to buy a ticket ahead of time. The ticket gets you five drinks and one food item, and if you wait too long to buy one, the price goes up.

My friends and I started getting ready around 8 a.m. My roommate Rose and I woke up easily, blasting Irish pub songs on our big JBL speaker. The music bounced off the walls, filling our apartment with the fast-paced fiddles and the stomping beats of the Irish music. We tried our best Irish jigs and I gotta admit my Irish heritage shined through in this moment. Sophie, however, was still buried under her blankets, groaning as we tried to drag her out of bed. Luckily, her best friend from home, Hannah, was on our side and managed to get her moving.

The smell of eggs sizzling in the pan blended with the sharp, strong smell of espresso as Sophie whipped up a round of espresso martinis. She's the designated espresso martini bartender in the house. Not long after, my boyfriend Graydon showed up, followed by my friend Riley and her friend from home, Maddy.

When we pulled up to get dropped off, the streets were already alive and the line stretched nearly the whole way down the block. Music pulsed from inside the venue, the bass vibrating in my chest before we even stepped in. The line outside moved fast, and we were inside before I knew it running into familiar faces left and right.

A Cultural Experience

Kegs & Eggs is a tradition that brings people together year after year. My teammates on my volleyball team when I was younger always talked about going to it. I remember freshman year, we were on our way to a tournament and passed PowerPlant, and my teammates and I were sad we couldn't go. It is an event that so many Loyola students go to and I was missing my first opportunity. I've made it to the next 3 though! It is not just about drinking. It is about the experience, the music, and the atmosphere. It is about feeling connected to a larger community, whether that is through Irish heritage or just the shared tradition of celebrating St. Patrick’s Day in Baltimore alongside a ton of other Loyola students.

While some people might see it as just an excuse to party, it connects back to a long history of how Irish immigrants brought their culture to the U.S. and how those traditions evolved into something new. It is a mix of old and new, blending heritage with modern ways of celebrating. Even though this specific event is tailored for college students and young adults, it still ties into Baltimore’s larger Irish-American identity.

Why It Matters

Baltimore has so many different cultures and traditions, and events like this show how diverse the city is. It is a representation of how a group of people in Baltimore honor the holiday here. It is chaotic, has a twist of its own (especially being that this venue has a bull to ride), but my few trips here will be part of my college memories with my friends forever.

In a city like Baltimore, where so many different cultures have shaped its identity, experiences like this highlight how celebrations change depending on where you are. While Locust Point and other Irish neighborhoods in the city hold more traditional events, Kegs & Eggs represents a younger and very social side of St. Patrick’s Day in Baltimore. 

I would say it is worth going if you have a good group of friends and you are planning on using your drink/food tickets. I have several friends who did not go because they didn't want to pay for the ticket if they weren't drinking and that is definitely something to take into consideration. The thought of a big crowd early in the morning that's loud, a little bit messy, and packed was also something that didn't interest them too much. It would be worth considering all of this before committing to go!