Time for a challenge: complete all the stereotypical St. Patrick’s Day tasks below. Have fun and good luck!

• Watch the St. Patrick’s Day parade on the Capitol Square
• Eat at least two of the following items at a local restaurant:
  • Corned beef and cabbage
  • Irish soda bread
  • Irish stew
  • Shepherd’s pie
  • Lucky Charms (bonus if you can find them)
• Consume at least two of the following drinks at a local bar:
  • Green beer
  • Irish car bomb
  • Jameson, 2 Gingers or Red Breast (shot, neat or on-the-rocks)
  • Guinness, Murphy’s or Harp beer
  • McDonald’s Shamrock Shake
• Have at least one drink before noon (anytime during the week)
• Take a picture with someone wearing a “Kiss Me, I’m Irish” T-shirt
• Wear a green St. Patrick’s Day T-shirt with some other funny slogan
• Participate in an organized walk/run of any length (e.g. Shamrock Shuffle, WJJO .10K Race, etc.)
• Wear green beads. Bonus if they have a shot glass attached to them.
• Spot someone dressed as a leprechaun
• Listen to live bagpipe music. Bonus if the song is something other than “Scotland the Brave”
• See any other live band
• Don’t wear a jacket when you go out because it’s March and should be a lot warmer

Consider yourself someone who really gets into the “traditional” St. Patrick’s Day celebration if you can complete at least  75 percent of this list.

Note: Updated for 2014

When you think of a city that really celebrates St. Patrick’s Day, you think of Madison, right? Even though we’re not at the caliber of a Chicago or a Boston, we have a surprising amount of events. Here are some highlights:

WJJO/Miller Lite .10K Run/Walk: Each year on the Saturday before St. Patty’s Day, 1,200 people “race” from State Street Brats to Brothers Bar. This takes place after they’ve been drinking since 9 a.m. of course. The partying continues throughout the day at Kollege Klub, Wando’s and Whiskey Jack’s. Taking place Saturday, March 22, 2014.

Shamrock Shuffle: If you want to do a race longer than one block, Saturday’s trot through campus is for you. The 5K/10K run and 2M walk to benefit the Boys & Girls Club of Dane County starts at 10 a.m. at the Overture Center and includes a pre-race concert by the Kissers. Taking place Sunday, March 16, 2014.

St. Patrick’s Day Parade: I actually had class with Katie O’Phelan, the originator of the annual march around the Capitol Square, now in its 15th year. The parade starts at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, and the grand marshal is Patrick Gallagher of 105.5 Triple M. Taking place Sunday, March 16, 2014.

Bud Light St. Patrick’s Day Regent Crawl: Bagpipers will lead this bar crawl that starts at 6 p.m. at Stadium Bar and heads east to Buckingham’s. There will of course be specials on Bud and some giveaways, too. Taking place at 1 p.m. Saturday, March 15, 2014.

Endless live music and performances: Pick a bar, any bar, and you’ll likely find live entertainment. For example, Erin’s Snug has the Rowdy Prairie Dogs, the Majestic has 80s vs. 90s St. Patty’s Day edition, Club Tavern has Mighty Short Bus and the Overture Center has the Trinity Irish Dancers.

Find more details on some of these events on the MADISON page, and don’t forget to use the “St. Patrick’s Day” search box on the DRINK page. For ideas on where some of the big parties are, watch this video: