Saint Paddy's Day Mayhem: Shamrock Fest 2009

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SATURDAY: Forget the pubs. Try more than 50 live bands, thousands of screaming fans and endless amounts of green beer. Shamrock Fest 2009 features all this and more in what could possibly be the most massive Saint Paddy's Day festival this side of the Atlantic.

The day-long fete features a 40-acre "party area" with Irish American bands such as Flogging Molly and Carbon Leaf, as well as notable DJs Team Facelift and Junior Sanchez. Not enticed yet? Just head over to the festival's "Irish Village" for authentic Irish pub games and performances by the McGrath Academy of Irish Dance or the D.C. folk group The Flying Cows of Ventry to fulfill all of your traditional Irish needs.

The sultry sounds of bagpipes and kettle drums go perfectly with that $12 solo cup of Guinness you chugged between the SMZB set and whatever clog-dancing group was stomping it up before them.

» RFK Stadium, 2400 East Capitol St. SE; Sat., March 14, 1 p.m., $20-$80; 202-547-9077. (Stadium-Armory)

Written by Express' Brian Austin
Photo courtesy of Gerald Martineau/The Washington Post