NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — This Saturday, fans of the late actor Patrick Swayze can gather at a local bar in The Nations for an annual celebration of all things Swayze.

"St. Patrick Swayze" Day is happening at The Centennial bar all day Saturday, Aug. 16.

The celebration of the "patron saint of the bar" began in 2017, according to The Centennial co-owner Nate Bagby.

"Swayze's kind of the patron saint of the bar because of 'Road House," Bagby previously told News 2.

The West Nashville bar holds a neighborhood party in honor of the late actor, who died in 2009 due to complications of pancreatic cancer. They always choose a date near Swayze's birthday, Aug. 18, for the pseudo-festival.

People dress in Swayze costumes and hang out at the bar, which plays classic Swayze silver screen moments, including "Road House," "Dirty Dancing," and "Point Break."

The event has become The Nations' own neighborhood festival like ones in East Nashville.

"It was born out of us talking about how we would like to figure out something to be almost our tiny version of a Tomato Art Fest to get people in the neighborhood to have something fun to do," he told News 2 in 2024.

It started as "just two guys having a weird conversation" that has since become an annual tradition.

As always, the day will begin with the Swayze Classic Fun Run, a run/walk/jog that begins at 10:15 a.m. This year's Swayze Classic will have two different course lengths: a "2-ish" mile route and a "4-ish" mile route in The Nations.

According to The Nations Run Club, who manages the Classic, all participants are "highly encouraged" to wear their 1980s best or Swayze-themed outfits for the kid-, dog-, and stroller-friendly event.

Registration is still live for the Swayze Classic for those who want to join. To register and see the routes, click here.

After the run concludes and the bar opens, The Centennial will be full to the brim with Swayze fans. The event will also see plenty of games and prizes, exclusive Swayze Day merch, a costume contest, and Swayze-inspired drink specials.

According to Bagby, this year's event will be "our typical Swayze inspired revelry."

"Just a good excuse for the neighborhood to get together and have a little fun before school starts back up and football takes over everyone's attention span," Bagby told News 2.

News Source : https://www.wkrn.com/news/local-news/middle-tn-neighborhood-news/st-patrick-swayze-day-2025-set-the-nations/