![] (Aaron Lavinsky | StarTribune) LuckyPalooza, a St. Patrick's Day themed street festival, invited attendees to enjoy bars and restaurants on West 7th Street in St. Paul. It included four tent parties, three outdoor music stages with live and DJ music, and outdoor food and beverage options. ORG XMIT: MIN1503141628303935](https://arc.stimg.co/startribunemedia/LD6LWWU5DHQ6A4XBVR4RYSLFUI.jpg?&w=1080)
The Twin Cities may not dye its river green, but it does host a slew of other spectacles to kick off St. Patrick's Day weekend.
Green boas, beads and beer were the most common accessories at St. Paul's first LuckyPalooza block party Saturday afternoon, which organizers said drew about 20,000 people downtown. Two blocks of W. 7th Street were dedicated to outdoor music, food vendors and a stunt-bike show from 2 to 11 p.m.
St. Paul, with its high concentration of Irish-Catholic settlers and Irish pubs, is already the epicenter of St. Patty's Day celebrations in the Twin Cities metro. But after the city's successful Red Bull Crashed Ice event on the same street in January, organizers said they wanted a repeat performance for this holiday.
"The goal is to show people visiting that St. Patrick's Day is a big day in St. Paul, and we know how to celebrate it," said event spokesman Adam Johnson.
Restaurants along W. 7th helped finance the event and McGovern's, Burger Moe's and Cossetta's threw tent parties for additional exposure.
Carrie McClure, a regular St. Paul paradegoer, said she ventured downtown with her family for a more authentic St. Patty's Day celebration.
"St. Paul feels more like a close-knit family," while Minneapolis doesn't have the same hometown vibe, said McClure, who's part Irish-Italian.
Parents lifted toddlers above their heads to watch local Red Bull athlete Aaron Colton perform his bicycle stunts down the middle of the street. For some families, LuckyPalooza was the first introduction their children had to St. Patrick's Day festivities.
