Missouri S&T is preparing for its 114th annual “Best Ever” St. Pat’s celebration this March. The theme for this year’s celebration is “St. Pat’s at the Graveyard.”

The campus celebrations began in 1908, when a group of Rolla students declared a holiday on St. Patrick’s Day to celebrate the patron saint of engineers. St. Pat’s has since grown to encompass a full week of events sponsored by the St. Pat’s Board at S&T, as well as campus traditions that begin in early March. Two community-sponsored events are also included in the schedule.

The current schedule for the 114th St. Pat’s celebration at Missouri S&T is as follows:

Monday, March 7, through Wednesday, March 9:

9 a.m.—4 p.m.: Snake Invasion on the Toomey Hall Lawn. Students will club plastic snakes with decorative sticks called shillelaghs.

Saturday, March 12:

6 p.m.: St. Pat’s Grand Ball sponsored by Coterie. The event includes dinner and dancing with live music in Hasselmann Alumni House, located at 1100 N. Pine St. in Rolla. For tickets or more information, contact Dilek Acar at dilek@rollanet.org or visit visitrolla.com/events/114th-st-pats-ball. This is a community event.

Monday, March 14, and Tuesday March 15:

Noon: St. Pat’s Follies at the Carney Puck and Plaza, a campus landmark located in front of Toomey Hall. Students tell jokes, participate in games and present St. Pat’s swag from years past.

Wednesday, March 16:

Approximately 11 a.m.: Court arrival at the Puck. St. Pat and the court, portrayed by S&T students, will officially arrive in Rolla aboard a converted railway car. They will proceed from the corner of 6th and Pine streets and proceed to the Carney Puck and Plaza on the S&T campus for the final day of St. Pat’s Follies.

Thursday, March 17:

Noon—6 p.m.: Gonzo and Games at Schuman Park, located at 103 E. 14th St. in Rolla. Gonzo and Games is a two-day game contest in which student organizations compete. Students will have a chance to participate in a variety of games and contests.

Friday, March 18:

9 a.m.: Gonzo Gives Back, the St. Pat’s Day of Service. Students will participate in volunteer work in the Rolla community.

Noon — 6 p.m.: Gonzo and Games, Schuman Park.

9 p.m.: Coronation and Knighting Ceremony at Leach Theatre in Castleman Hall, located at 10th and Main streets in Rolla. Honorary knights from 2020, 2021, and 2022 will be formally vested with their titles and the 2022 St. Pat’s Queen and her court will be announced. The event is open to the public and free to attend.

Saturday, March 19:

8 a.m.: St. Pat’s 5K and Beer Run. The 5K is sponsored by the Rolla Area Chamber of Commerce and Town & Country Bank, while the Beer Run is sponsored by the Rolla Chamber and Public House Brewing Company. Registration costs $35 for either race, or participants can register for both events for a discounted price of $60. Register online at visitrolla.com/events/st-pats-5k-beer-run. For more information, email rollacc@rollachamber.org. This is a community event.

9 a.m.—10:30 a.m.: Pre-Parade Breakfast, outside Hasselmann Alumni House at 1100 N. Pine St. in the north parking lot. This event is hosted by the Miner Alumni Association and is free and open to the community on a first-come, first-served basis.

11 a.m.: St. Pat’s Parade on Pine Street in downtown Rolla.

Noon—4 p.m.: St. Pat’s Grateful Board Festival in downtown Rolla, featuring local vendors and food trucks. Grateful Dead cover band The Schwag will perform at the Rolla bandshell.

6 p.m.—9 p.m.: St. Pat’s Concert on the Havener Lawn. Tickets are required, and are free for S&T students, faculty and staff. Students may bring a non-S&T guest for $10 in advance, any remaining tickets will be available for $15 at the door. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. The concert will feature Bea Miller, BabyJake, and Absofacto, with a fireworks display to follow.

For more information on the events listed, see the St. Pat’s Committee website at stpats.mst.edu.

About Missouri University of Science and Technology

Missouri University of Science and Technology (Missouri S&T) is a STEM-focused research university of over 7,200 students. Part of the four-campus University of Missouri System and located in Rolla, Missouri, Missouri S&T offers 101 degrees in 40 areas of study and is among the nation’s top 10 universities for return on investment, according to Business Insider. S&T also is home to the Kummer Institute, made possible by a $300 million gift from Fred and June Kummer. For more information about Missouri S&T, visit www.mst.edu.