It’s that time of year again: time for green beer, shamrocks and kissing strangers who claim to be Irish – and a whole host of venues gets in on the celebration.

The Dubliner’s St. Patrick’s Day Extravaganza isn’t for the faint of heart. They’re not just filling up the pub with Irish-inspired booze and food — the party overflows into the tented parking lot. Raise your glass of Guinness before noshing on traditional faves like fish and chips, shepherds pie and imported sausages.

But that’s just the beginning: If you stick around for a second round of brews (or third, or fourth, or … you get the point), the fest continues with live rock bands, a stage performance by the Stephen Scariff School of Irish Dance and a bagpipe troupe. A stuffed leprechaun toss, shepherd’s pie eating contest and Irish sheep racing round out the green day offerings. 11 a.m.-3 a.m. Weds., March 17, The Dubliner Irish Pub, 12836 Henderson Road, Tampa, $5 cover, $9.95 lunch, thedublineririshpub.com.

More St. Paddy’s Day events after the break:

This article appears in Mar 17-23, 2010.