The 118th annual “Best Ever” St. Pat’s celebration is underway at Missouri University of Science and Technology, with the theme “Shamrock ’n Roll.” 

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 118th Best Ever St. Pat’s celebration at Missouri S&T is as follows: 

Monday, March 2, through Wednesday, March 4: 

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

Monday, March 9, and Tuesday March 10: 

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

Wednesday, March 12: 

11 a.m. to noon: 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 to the Carney Puck and Plaza on the S&T campus for the final day of St. Pat’s Follies. 

Thursday, March 13: 

Noon-6 p.m.: Gonzo and Games and Gonzo Carnival at Schuman Park, located at 103 E. 14th St. in Rolla. Gonzo and Games is a two-day contest in which student organizations compete in various games. The Gonzo Carnival will be held alongside Gonzo and Games, featuring booths run by student organizations. 

Thursday, March 12: 

8:30 a.m.: Gonzo Gives Back Day of Service. Students will participate in volunteer work in the Rolla community. 

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

Friday, March 13:  

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

9 p.m.: Coronation and Knighting Ceremony at Leach Theatre in Castleman Hall, located at 10th and Main streets in Rolla. The 2025 St. Pat’s Queen and her court will be announced, and S&T’s Honorary Knights will be recognized. The event is open to the public and free to attend. 

Saturday, March 14: 

8 a.m.: St. Pat’s 5K and Beer Run. The 5K is sponsored by the Rolla Area Chamber of Commerce and Blue Fish Screen Printing and Designs, while the Beer Run is sponsored by the Rolla Chamber and Public House Brewing Company. Registration is $35 for either race, or participants can register for both events for $60. For more information or to register, visit besteverstpats5k.itsyourrace.com. 

9-10:30 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.  

1 p.m.: Grateful Board Concert at the Rolla Bandshell. 

6:30 p.m.: St. Pat’s Concert on the Welcome Center Lawn, headlined by The Wrecks with opener Friday Pilots Club. Tickets are required and are free for S&T students, and $20 for the general public.   

For more information on Missouri S&T’s St. Pat’s celebrations, visit the St. Pat’s Board 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 7,000 students located in Rolla, Missouri. Part of the four-campus University of Missouri System, Missouri S&T offers over 100 degrees in 40 areas of study and is among the nation’s top public universities for salary impact, according to the Wall Street Journal. For more information about Missouri S&T, visit www.mst.edu.