Five Best Food and Drink Events This Weekend: Block Parties, Specialty Beer Releases, and More Green Beer

Congratulations, you made it through yet another working week. You might as well give yourself a pat on the back to celebrate -- or better yet, a drink or three.

Whether you're looking to attend a St. Patrick's Day block party, taste some brews at Funky Buddha's second annual Pi Day, or raise money for a good cause, there's plenty for you to do in South Florida this weekend.

See also: Ten Best Brunches in Fort Lauderdale

5. Delray Beach St. Patrick's Day Parade After Party at Saltwater Brewery

Since 1968, the Delray Beach St. Patrick's Day parade has been one of South Florida's premiere parades. This year marks the 47th-annual celebration, with 12 fire department ladder trucks from a dozen Florida municipalities ranging from Miami to Martin County have come to represent their communities by pairing up in twos and hanging six flags across the parade street for all to pass under. This weekend, the two-day festival will center on the grounds of the Delray Beach Center for the Arts featuring live music, Irish dancers, and marching pipe and drums bands from around the world. Expect arts and crafts vendors, great food, and plenty of libations. But, if that's not enough, you can always head over to Saltwater Brewery for the unofficial after-party on Saturday starting at 3 p.m. The evening will feature food trucks, live music, and special beers will be on tap including a new release: the O'Shandy -- a green kiwi and berry shandy. Saltwater Brewery is located at 1701 W Atlantic Ave., Delray Beach.

4. Just Jacks Rescue St. Patrick's Day Party at Funky Buddha Brewery

On Sunday, March 15, the Just Jacks terrier rescue will host a Yappy Hour fundraiser event starting at 2 p.m. with free treats for all dogs and a raffle featuring a $200 spa package from the Mandarin Oriental Hotel Miami and a $90 Halo Pets Gift Basket. The "Just Jacks" nonprofit is a South Florida-based dog rescue dedicated to Jack Russell Terriers (although they will rescue other breeds in dire situations), and relies solely on volunteers. All money raised at the fundraiser will go to medical care and food for the rescued dogs. At 4 p.m. join rescue members and participants in a pie-eating contest for the pooches with awards for different weight categories. Just Jacks will also be selling its famous Buddha Beer Biscuits for $5 a bag, made from the leftover Funky Buddha beer mash with egg, whole wheat flour, and peanut butter. People, you get the goods, too: a $5 donation will get you a wristband that is good for $1 off all Buddha drafts inside from 2 to 7 p.m. Funky Buddha Brewery is located at 1201 NE 38th St, Oakland Park. Call 954-440-0046, or visit funkybuddhabrewery.com.

3. 9th Annual Lake Worth St. Patrick's Day Charity Parade

Everyone is Irish on St. Patrick's Day, so why not celebrate it at one of the craziest events in South Florida early? This Sunday, Lake Worth will be celebrating block party-style with its annual charity parade benefiting local nonprofit, Wheels For Kids (WFK), an organization established to provide wheelchairs to handicapped children afflicted with Cerebral Palsy living in Palm Beach County who are financially unable to purchase them on their own and who do not qualify for public funding or other charitable sources. Today, WFK accepts applications for any child living in Palm Beach County with a long term disability that will benefit from the aid of a customized or stock mobility device. The event begins at noon on Lake Avenue in downtown Lake Worth and features giveaways, Irish music, floats, DJ's, restaurants serving Irish fare, and -- of course -- plenty of beer. The parade will take place in downtown Lake Worth on Lucerne Ave. Visit wheelsforkids.org.

2. 4th Annual Coconut Creek World of Beer Block Party

While most South Floridians have mastered the art of drinking any day of the week and almost any time and place, the masses will still be looking forward to a number of early St. Paddy's Day-themed celebrations going down this weekend. This Saturday, that list will include the World of Beer (WOB) in Coconut Creek, which will celebrate the luck of the Irish all day long for its fourth-annual WOB Block Party. This year, the Block Party will be one sham-rockin' celebration featuring tons of new beer releases, free food for Loyalty Club members, charity raffles, and live music. Good beer bars don't just let their patrons drink beer on St. Patrick's Day -- they also provide free food. On Saturday, complimentary eats will be donated by Tucker Duke's for Loyalty Club members who wear their shirts. The free fare starts at 12:30 p.m. Loyalty Club members who wear their shirts can also anticipate a special surprise giveaway. For a complete list of specialty releases go here. The Coconut Creek WOB Fourth Annual Block Party will take place March 14 from noon to 2 a.m. World of Beer is located at 4437 Lyons Road, Coconut Creek. Call 954-984-0300, or visit worldofbeer.com/Locations/CoconutCreek.

1. Funky Buddha Second Annual Pi Day

Don't miss the second annual Pi Day (aka March 14) this Saturday. Timed tappings start at 4 p.m. and include Key Lime Pie Berlinerweiss, German Chocolate Cake and Blueberry Cobbler (4 p.m.); Red Velvet Cake, Bonita Applebum, Sweet Potato Casserole (5 p.m.); Lemon Meringue Berlinerweiss, Carrot Cake (6 p.m.); Apple Brandy Barrel Aged Belgian Quad, Rum Barrel-Aged Coquito (Puerto Rican egg nog) (7 p.m.). And for food: the Rolling Chefs, Mr. PB&J, Diablo Dog, and Cutie Pie Pops will be there with some incredible pairings for all those pie-inspired brews. For more information visit the Facebook page.

Nicole Danna is a food blogger covering Broward and Palm Beach counties. To get the latest in food and drink news in South Florida, follow her @SoFloNicole or find her latest food pics on Clean Plate's Instagram.