If you want to discover the best cities to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, you have come to the right place. Each one of these cities have vibrant celebrations and rich cultural experiences to enjoy during St. Patrick’s Day.
From the historic streets of Boston to the iconic coloring of the river in Chicago, each city on the list has events and activities that will help you make memories that will last a lifetime.
The list is in no particular order. You get to decide which one is the best for you. So, continue reading to find the best cities to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in the U.S.
10 Best Cities to Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day
1. Boston, Massachusetts
Boston has the highest concentration of Irish descendants in the U.S. so it is logical to start off with them. The city’s 3 mile parade which takes place in South Boston began in 1901. It is attended by a million people each year. In the parade, you will see Irish bands, floats, dancers, bag pipers and more.
Besides the parade, you can attend an Irish Film Festival, circle the harbor in a party cruise, run in the St. Patrick’s Day Road Race, explore the Irish Heritage Trail, visit other landmarks that emphasize the Irish history of Boston and get a bite to eat and drinks at many of the local Irish pubs.
2. Chicago, Illinois
The Windy City takes St. Patrick’s Day celebrations to new heights. The iconic coloring of the Chicago River takes place at 9:00 am the Saturday before St. Patrick’s Day. This tradition started in 1961. The dye formula for the river is a guarded secret.
The city also has a parade that starts in the downtown area. In the parade, you will see Irish floats, bagpipes, marching bands, Irish dancers, firefighters and policemen.
When you are hungry, there are many Irish pubs in the city that have live music, Irish dance, and authentic Irish cuisine. Other activities that you can take part in include: a pub crawl, river cruise, Irish film festival, and you can go to the Irish Heritage Center which offers St. Patrick’s Day programs.
3. New York, New York
The Big Apple knows how to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. The city’s St. Patrick’s Day parade started in 1762. Today the parade is one of the largest in the world. There are 150,000 people who participate in the parade and 2 million people who attend it.
Other things to enjoy in the city include: the Irish Whiskey Festival, pub crawls, taking a St. Patrick’s Day party cruise, visiting the American Irish Historical Society, taking in cultural events at the Gluckman’s Ireland House, and going on a candlelight tour of the Basilica of St. Patrciks’s Old Cathedral network of catacombs.
4. Savannah, Georgia
Savannah is known as the “St. Patrick’s Day Capital of the South.” The city offers a unique blend of southern charm along with Irish tradition.
Savannah’s festivities kick off with the dyeing of the water in Forsyth Park Fountain. The fountain’s waters run green until the end of the parade.
Savannah’s St. Patrick’s Day parade is one of the largest in the U.S. It is attended by 400,000 visitors each year. In the parade, you will see wonderful floats, marching bands, Irish dancers and more.
There are many other festivities that you can enjoy in Savannah. You can have a picnic in one of the many squares located throughout the city, watch the Celtic Cross Ceremony in Emmet Park, which honors Savannah’s Irish Heritage, and attend the Savannah’s Irish Festival.
5. New London, Wisconsin
New London is located 40 miles west of Green Bay, WI. The city has a population of just over 7,000 people. Don’t let the small size fool you when it comes to celebrating St. Patrick’s Day.
New London kicks off the week-long festivities with the local Shamrock Club members dressed up like Leprechauns going around town changing the name of the city to “New Dublin.”
The town’s parade is like many you will find throughout the U.S. with bagpipe bands, marching bands, festive clowns, and floats. The one unique part of the parade is that it has an Irish funeral parody with a mock funeral procession as well as an antique hearse and coffin theatrics.
You can also enjoy the week long New Dublin Irish Festival that has Celtic bands, Irish yodeling, market booths, and food and drink. You can also go to numerous Irish pubs in the city.
6. New Orleans, Louisiana
The Big Easy is more known for its French Creole heritage but the city has a large Irish heritage dating back to the 1700s when Irish people were fleeing religious persecution.
New Orleans infuses its unique flair into St. Patrick’s Day celebrations with a series of St. Patrick’s Day parades that run for 3 weeks. In the parades, you will see colorful floats, jazz bands, bagpipes and marching bands.
You can go to various pubs to enjoy live Irish music. In the French Quarter you can enjoy a large block party. The Irish Channel Historic District has numerous parades and block parties.
7. Hot Springs, Arkansas
If you are into quirky and unique St. Patrick’s Day celebrations then Hot Springs is going to be for you.
Bridge Street at 98 feet long is the shortest street in the world. It is the same street where the St. Patrick’s Day parade takes place, making it the shortest St. Patrick’s Day parade in the world. In the parade, you will see Irish Elvis impersonators, the world’s largest leprechaun, a marching band of kazoos, and more.
Besides the parade, you can enjoy various live concerts, run in the Zero K road race that is 99 feet long, have a beer at O’Kelly’s Pub the largest inflatable pub in the world and enter the Blarney Stone kissing contest.
8. Washington D.C.
The nation’s capitol embraces St. Patrick’s Day with a spirited parade that goes down Constitution Avenue. The parade itself lasts 2.5 hours. In the parade are pipe bands, marching bands, dancers, floats, military, and police and fire departments.
A major event for St. Patrick’s Day is the National Shamrock Fest. At the festival are 7 stages with 50 bands that perform throughout the day. There are also dancers, games, activities and carnival rides at the festival.
Some other events include: going to the Kennedy Center to see a St. Patrick’s Day concert, the Washington National Cathedral for themed activities and celebrations, and the National Geographic Museum for themed exhibits.
9. San Francisco
The St. Patrick’s Day parade in San Francisco has been going on for 160 years. It attracts more than 100,000 visitors each year. The parade starts at the corner of 2nd and Market Street. The parade has floats, traditional Irish music, and dance performances.
San Francisco has many other things to enjoy during St. Patrick’s Day. Irish Hill is a popular spot to take in a great view of the city and to celebrate the holiday. There are numerous pub crawls to take part in. You can also enjoy concerts at many different venues throughout the city. A harbor cruise is a great way to relax and get wonderful views of San Francisco.
10. Kansas City, Missouri
Irish settlers settled in the Kansas City area in the mid-1800s. They helped develop the Independence and Westport part of the city. Those settlers brought their culture including celebrating St. Patrick’s Day.
There are a number of parades in the city for St. Patrick’s Day. One of the more popular ones is the Kansas City St. Patrick’s Day parade. It starts at Linwood and Broadway Streets and ends in the Westport District.
If you want to do a family friendly activity, you can go to the Irish Center of Kansas City which hosts cultural events and activities. The St. Patrick’s Day In Power and Light District has bar crawls, special concerts, and green pancakes and beer at McFadden’s.
Final Thoughts
As you can see the list of the best cities to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day is very diverse. It doesn’t matter if you celebrate in the rich Irish heritage of Boston or watch the shortest St. Patrick’s Day parade in Hot Springs, each city on this list offers a blend of cultural festivities and lively celebrations.
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