O'Charley's: 'Irish Music Will Be Playing All Day Long'

JOLIET, IL — There was no fun on St. Patrick's Day last year for the long-time owners of Joliet's popular O'Charley's Irish Pub, 117 N. Center St. In 2020, the pandemic hit. Illinois bars and sit-down restaurants were forced to close March 16, the day before St. Patrick's Day.

That meant O'Charley's had to cancel its annual St. Patrick's Day celebration. For years, O'Charley's has been party central on March 17. It's one of Joliet's favorite stops for families, friends and coworkers to have a blast on St. Patrick's Day.

"Everything here is Irish," manager JR Alonzo told Joliet Patch on Tuesday afternoon. "You don't get much more Irish than O'Charley's. It's got the most Irish heritage behind it."

And whether you're a regular patron or just out to have fun on the one day of the year you can pretend to be Irish if you're not, you're always welcome to have a Guinness and share cheers inside the bar or at the heated tent.

"Hopefully, we get a good big turnout," Alonzo said.

So what's ahead for St. Patrick's Day at O'Charley's?

O'Charley's will have a DJ playing favorites from The Clancy Brothers, Dropkick Murphys and many others.

"Irish music will be playing all day long in our heated tent," remarked Alonzo, whose uncle Tommy Charley is the owner.

On St. Paddy's Day, O'Charley's will feature 16 oz Guinness and 16 oz Harp lagers for $5; domestic beer cans will be $3. Corned beef dinners and corned beef sandwiches will be served from noon until around 7 p.m.

O'Charley's will open at 11 a.m. and close at 2 a.m.

And this coming Saturday, O'Charley's will repeat the St. Patrick's Day party and stay open until 3 a.m., its manager said.

O'Charley's has been at the corner of North Center and Oneida Streets since 1988. Before that, O'Charley's was downtown near the Will County Courthouse.

Related coverage: St. Patrick's Day In Joliet: Food, Fun And Drink Specials Here