The History of the Erin Express
On St. Patrick's Day in the city of brotherly love, Philly transforms into a vibrant kaleidoscope of festivities that cater to two distinct breeds of party enthusiasts. Picture this: on one side of Benjamin Franklin Parkway, families with their kiddos gather, eagerly anticipating the lively Irish dancers parading down the street. Meanwhile, on the other side, you've got the folks who've embraced an unconventional fashion statement—plastic beads, green from head to toe, and plenty of Miller Lite to go around. Yes, the spectrum is wide, my friend!
St. Patrick's Day Parade 1967. Irish Philadelphia/Tom Keenan
In the not-so-distant past, children frolicking with their parents mere blocks away from spirited co-eds upchucking Guinness and Bailey's was an annual affair. However, St. Patrick's Day wasn't always synonymous with this eclectic mix of celebrations. Unveil the history, and you'll discover that designating March 17 as a grand drinking holiday is a relatively recent phenomenon.
Take a leap back to the 5th century, and you'll find the roots of St. Patrick's Day as a religious observance for the Irish. Patrick, once a Brit held captive by the Irish, made a daring escape home after six long years. However, destiny had other plans for him. A dream beckoned him back to Ireland, calling him to convert the locals to Christianity—a mission he embraced wholeheartedly. Legend has it that he breathed his last on March 17, and voilà, the legacy was born!
Now, Ireland takes a more reserved approach to the day—a religious feast, families attending Mass, and businesses shutting down. But let's rewind to the 1920s when pubs had to keep their doors shut on this sacred day, thanks to the Intoxicating Liquor Act of 1927. Fast forward to 1962, and the act is repealed, mainly to woo tourists. It took until the '70s for pubs to become the cool kids on the block, opening up for St. Paddy's celebrations. The first official St. Patrick's Day Festival in Dublin only kicked off in 1996.
The American-Irish, however, have always known how to throw a party. In the 12th century, English rulers made their presence felt in Ireland, sparking rebellions and centuries of strife for Irish Catholics. Fast forward to the 18th century, and we see New York City hosting the first St. Patrick's Day parade in 1762. Philadelphia promptly joined the shindig in 1771, thanks to the Society of the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick, which even counted George Washington as an honorary member in 1782. Not too shabby!
Back in the day, the Friendly Sons lent a helping hand to Irish emigrants settling in the U.S. Today, they're still at it—providing scholarships, fundraising for charity, and keeping the flame alive for their cultural heritage. Philly boasts a robust Irish community, with an impressive 11 percent of the city identifying with Irish ancestry. The parade, the nation's second-oldest, got its official seal in 1952 and has been proudly hosted by the St. Patrick's Day Observance Association ever since. Now, it's a colossal affair with 150+ participating organizations and thousands of spectators.
Meet Michael Bradley, the Parade director, a veteran with 25 years under his belt and 13 at the helm. He's witnessed the parade's audience exploding, thanks in part to the '90s phenomenon—Riverdance. The show triggered a wave of interest in Irish dance, inspiring a new generation to give it a whirl.
The 1967 St. Patrick's Day Parade. Irish Philadelphia/Tom Keenan
Alongside this wholesome celebration, the '80s and '90s saw the emergence of another St. Patrick's Day trend—the commercialization of the day by pubs and bars. Enter Erin Express, the iconic bar crawl that's been ferrying merry drinkers around for over 30 years. What started with Irish sweater-clad gents on trolleys has evolved into a massive event with block parties, DJ-spun beats, and low beer prices. It's the kind of celebration that attracts thousands of college students and recent graduates, transforming the streets into a sea of green revelry.
The roots of the Erin Express trace back over 30 years when the visionary minds behind Cavanaugh's, Smokey Joe's, and Mace's Crossing initiated the tradition.
"The initial years were modest," Brian Pawliczek (Now Shuttered Cavanaugh’s 39th St) shared in a 2015 article with PhillyVoice.com. "But things started to take off. Trolleys morphed into buses. Two guys strumming guitars transformed into full-fledged bands; the crowd, once older, became younger. It's the natural ebb and flow of things."
Around 2010 Pawliczek decided to up the ante by securing block party permits. This transformed 39th Street, nestled between Chestnut and Walnut, into a sprawling drink-centric celebration just a stone's throw away from the Penn and Drexel campuses. Cavanaugh's and the neighboring Blarney Stone got in on the action, offering beer at jaw-droppingly low prices, erecting port-o-johns for the convenience of partygoers, and hiring DJs to keep the beats alive throughout the day. The now-defunct Drinker's West on the same block also contributed to the festive chaos in its heyday.
After so many bars in Philadelphia shut down due to the covid pandemic Erin Express has now shifted again adding almost 3 times more bars, night clubs have now piled on and street closures around the city for outdoor events. Sadly many of the original bars didn’t make it through the Pandemic including Cavanaugh’s on 39th Street and Blarney Stone. Still the party pushes on in University City, Center City and Old City mainly. Bus transportation is also a thing of the past, as the Erin Express is now in more densely populated neighborhoods. If you’re looking for tickets you can find them through Urban Craft and Crawl or through Erin-Express.com.
