It’s time to don your best green attire and embrace the luck of the Irish because we’re already thinking about where to spend St. Patrick’s Day. Throughout the world, different cities celebrate this holiday in their own unique ways, with many even celebrating days beyond St. Patrick’s Day itself.
What was once more of a religious celebration honoring the death of the patron saint of Ireland, St. Patrick’s Day is now embraced in all sorts of ways. It’s a day filled with parades, Irish entertainment, and, yes, green beer.
Wondering where to spend St. Patrick’s Day? We’ve compiled a list of the best St. Paddy’s Day cities, from historic cities with a lot of Irish history to towns that turn the day into a massive party. Pick a location from this list, and you’re bound to have a very lucky St. Patrick’s Day vacation!
Short on time and don’t want to read the whole article? Check out our list:
- Dublin
- Boston
- Chicago
- New Orleans
- Buenos Aires
- San Antonio
- Limerick City
- New York City
- Sydney
- Savannah
- San Francisco
- San Diego
- Denver
- Cork City
- Cabo Roig
Don’t forget to check out our web story: The 15 Best Places to Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day
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The 15 Best Cities to Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day
1. Celebrate Irish Heritage in Dublin
Dublin is home to one of the best St. Patrick’s Day celebrations, though it wasn’t always this way. Celebrations here were once quite mild, with a small parade and more religious programming. But now, Dublin’s festivities drive over 500,000 to its city center each year.
Dublin’s St. Patrick’s Day Festival lasts for five days and features tons of events that really keep the party going, like the St. Patrick’s Day Festival Parade, a huge street carnival, and much more!
2. Party All Day in Boston
With Boston being rather famous for its Irish heritage, it’s no surprise the city is home to one of the best St. Patrick’s Day parades. The parade features colorful floats and homages to both Irish and American history, which only makes sense with Boston being one of the US’s most historic cities.
But the biggest party isn’t the parade. It can actually be found near Fenway Park at the House of Blues and MGM Music Hall, where the Celtic punk rock group the Dropkick Murphys return for their annual St. Patrick’s Day concerts. These concerts sell out fast, so get tickets in advance.
3. Glide on Emerald Waters in Chicago
Chicago is one of the best places to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, but the party doesn’t just start on St. Patrick’s Day. Instead, the festivities typically begin the Saturday before the holiday, when the Chicago River is dyed green.
The color only lasts a few hours, so be sure to book a cruise on these emerald waters at the right time. And buy your tickets early, as the spots fill up fast.
If you can’t get a spot, no worries. There’s plenty to see from the Chicago Riverwalk. Don’t miss the parade as well, which is one of the biggest and best St. Patrick’s Day parades in the US.
4. Keep the Party Going in New Orleans
New Orleans may be known best for its Mardi Gras festivities, which are happening the month prior to St. Patrick’s Day, but this holiday tends to bring back the revelry in the Big Easy.
New Orleans is famous for its party scenes, and the St. Patrick’s Day party scene is no different. Enjoy tons of vibrant, music-filled block parties and parades all during the week leading up to the holiday. The party tends to keep going even after St. Patrick’s Day comes to an end, with more parades coming later in March that celebrate additional saints beyond St. Patrick.
5. Have a Blast in Buenos Aires
Argentina is home to more than 500,000 Irish descendants, who gather together on St. Patrick’s Day to celebrate their heritage. Buenos Aires is one of the best places to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, where you can find a huge parade featuring Irish dancers, bagpipers, and costumed characters.
The party keeps going after the parade, with performances by Irish dance troupes, rock bands, and folk groups. Buenos Aires also has quite a sizeable Irish pub scene, which many flock to on this holiday.
6. Watch the River Parade in San Antonio
San Antonio, Texas, is home to one of the best St. Paddy’s Day parades, but it’s also one of the most unique. Kicking off the annual St. Patrick’s Day Festival is the dying of the San Antonio River Walk, turning the waters green. Unlike Chicago, the effect doesn’t last for just a few hours and is expected to stay green throughout the whole festival.
In addition to live music, local vendors, and cultural programming throughout the festival, you’ll also see the River Parade, where a procession of Irish-themed floats with Irish entertainers aboard will glide along the River Walk.
7. Celebrate Spring in Limerick City, Ireland
Sitting on the banks of the River Shannon, Limerick City sure knows how to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. This historic city has its own St. Patrick’s Day Festival, featuring a colorful parade and Street Show Saturday, where you’ll watch acrobats, magicians, and more talented acts put on a show on Bedford Row and Thomas Street.
The festival is also followed by the International Band Championship, where you’ll delight in watching thousands of the best musicians across the world gather to play.
8. See One of the US’s Oldest Parades in NYC
New York City’s first St. Patrick’s Day Parade was held in 1762, making it one of the oldest parades of its kind in the world. It remains one of the best St. Patrick’s Day parades, with a whopping 150,000 people marching in it each year.
In addition to the parade, you can find plenty more events happening throughout the holiday weekend, from themed party cruises to drinking and dining specials at many of the city’s hotspots.
9. Celebrate in Style in Sydney
During the Sydney St. Patrick’s Day Festival, this city shows off just how to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with a lot of fun and plenty of Irish cultural programming. In addition to the massive parade, you’ll also find Irish dancers, children’s characters, stilt walkers, and musicians entertaining the crowds. Those who want to come away having learned more about Irish culture can even take Irish language lessons.
10. See the Dying of Forsyth Park Fountain in Savannah
Savannah is one of the best St. Paddy’s Day cities if you want to return to the holiday’s roots. Although the holiday does feature some of the more secular activities you’ll find in other cities, like the dying green of the fountain in Forsyth Park and a festive parade, Savannah strives to keep faith as a primary tenet of the holiday.
If you’re looking for more traditional religious St. Patrick’s Day festivities, you can head over to take part in a special Celtic Cross Mass at the Basilica Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, followed by a ceremony at the Celtic Cross monument in Emmet Park.
11. Have Festive Fun in San Francisco
With pub crawls galore, a massive parade celebrating Irish heritage, and a festival with tons of live music and family-friendly activities, San Francisco hosts some of the best St. Patrick’s Day celebrations. If that’s not enough, you’ll also find plenty of block parties around every corner.
12. Join the Irish Festival in San Diego
Further south in California is another of the best St. Paddy’s Day cities, San Diego. Each year brings about the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Irish Festival. The parade features everything from dancing troupes to equestrian groups.
The fun keeps going with the Irish Festival, which includes live entertainment across multiple stages, Irish food and drink galore, Irish-inspired gifts made by local vendors, and games and rides for little ones.
13. Follow the Parade in Denver
While Denver has one of the largest and best St. Patrick’s Day parades in the US, that’s not where the festive fun ends. The city is also home to multiple bar crawls, parties, and festivals like Shamrock the Block, which features food and drink specials that are perfectly tailored to the occasion and live Irish entertainment.
14. See Cork City, Ireland, Come to Life
Cork City is home to one of the biggest St. Patrick’s Day celebrations in Ireland. Lasting four days, the Cork St. Patrick’s Festival features an annual parade, which seeks to celebrate the local community by showcasing everyone from sports teams to dance troupes.
The fun doesn’t stop there, as the festival includes many more events, including special food tours, harbor cruises, and the annual and colorful Ball Run.
15. Have a Beach Day in Cabo Roig, Spain
While St. Patrick’s Day can still be quite chilly around the world, you can escape the cold in Cabo Roig, one of the best places to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. The party kicks off with the annual parade, which is one of the largest in mainland Europe.
The festivities keep going all day long, with live music and dancing throughout the city streets and on the white sand beaches.
There you have it! The 15 best places to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. Where’s your favorite place to celebrate St. Paddy’s Day? Let us know in the comments!
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