Australians love Guinness and the madness helped them get into the Irish spirit a day early, enjoying St. Patrick’s Day parades before a night out at the pub.
Hundreds of people gathered on the streets of Melbourne’s St Kilda to catch a glimpse of the festivities as the St Patrick Day Festival held their family day on Saturday.
Dressed in their best green hats and top hats, Melburnians were treated to traditional dancing and music as the parade made its way to O’Donnell Gardens.
The festival also held a family day in the parks for the fifth time, including a dog show with prizes to be won for the best dressed dog, the wagging tail and the coolest dog.
Those who stuck around for a pint of Guinness were treated to the musical stylings of Pat McKernan, Eddie Simmons, Mac Crimimin and Ceili Band.
Emma Olrik, a bartender at the Australian Hotel in the Rocks, serves a Guinness on Saturday ahead of the official St Patricks Day on Sunday, March 17
Revelers in St Kilda joined in the festivities by donning their best green costumes
Celebrations in Melbourne continue until Sunday with an adults-only event headlined by folk band Tumbling Paddies County Fermanagh.
It’s just one of many events taking place across the country this weekend to celebrate Irish culture.
The celebration of St. Patrick’s Day began as a day of religious observance for the patron saint of Ireland.
And although it is not considered a public holiday in Australia, Irish and non-Irish alike consider it a day to celebrate the country’s culture and heritage.
About 2.4 million pints of Guinness will be consumed across the country, but Lion Australia has assured there will be no shortage of the black liquid.
“I can assure Australians they will have no trouble finding a pint this weekend,” Albertus Lombard, director of premium beer at Lion Brand, told The Daily Telegraph.
“We’re bringing in millions of stuff and it’s safe to say the majority of it will be in NSW.”
Melbourne, Brisbane and Sydney all had parades on Saturday, with more festivities planned for Sunday
Revelers were seen enjoying drinks on Saturday ahead of St. Patrick’s Day
Brisbane hosted an Irish parade on Saturday, with a sea of banner-carrying protesters marching through the CBD.
Cindy and Monique Bowdler showed off an extravagant Irish spirit, with the elegant ladies walking on stilts and wearing Irish top hats.
Meanwhile, Cathy and Al Nicholson were dressed in green and Mr. Nicholson had a bright, large orange beard.
Revelers in Sydney also drank pints of Guinness at the Australian Hotel and the Glenmore Hotel in the historic Rocks district ahead of Sunday’s Green party.
Australian Hotel bartenders Conor Mansfield and Emma Olrik showed off Guinness on tap and pints of the legendary dark drink on Saturday afternoon.