Most St. Patrick’s Day celebrations have been canceled the past two years due to COVID-19. This year, they are back and better than ever! If you’re looking for a place to wear green and congregate, we’ve narrowed down the top 6 cities across the country known for their St. Patrick’s Day celebrations. If you happen to be on assignment in one of the following cities, be sure to check out the Irish Holiday festivities.
Boston, MA
St. Patrick’s Day is an important and meaningful day in Boston! Not only because it is known as the capital of Irish America, but in 1901 it was declared Evacuation Day in Boston. Remembering the day for its historical significance when the British troops peacefully evacuated the city! Both events call for an elaborate St. Patrick’s Day celebration. The annual St. Patrick’s Day parade will take place on Sunday, March 20 this year in Southie! Enjoy floats, Irish-inspired food and dancing, live music, and don’t forget to order a Guinness at a nearby pub. There are plenty of festivities for everyone! Such as the Kiss Me I’m Irish Bar Crawl (March 12 & 17) or stop by one of the most well-known Irish pubs and restaurants in Boston, The Black Rose! There’s also a walk down the Irish Heritage Trail, the Irish Film Festival, and plenty of Irish food and activities!
New York, NY
Mark your calendars for Thursday, March 17 at 11:00 a.m. on Fifth Avenue for the oldest and largest St. Patrick’s Day parade in the country! The first parade was held in 1762, and New York continues the tradition each year in honor of St Patrick, Ireland’s most celebrated Saint. The city will be filled with spectators and partygoers dressed in green. The celebrations in New York vary from Irish food, green beer, and Guinness to sit-down Irish whiskey tastings. Enjoy any of the 1,000 different whiskey options at one of the most popular whiskey bars in the city, Brandy Library (don’t let the name fool you). You can also get the absolute insider tour by exploring the catacombs underneath St Patrick’s Old Cathedral, or by visiting the beautiful Cathedral itself!
Savannah, GA
If your travel assignment is in Savannah, you are in for a treat this St. Patrick’s Day! Historically, Irish settlers arrived in Savannah, Georgia in 1734 on some of the first ships to the new colony. Which led St. Patrick’s Day to become a prominent holiday festival in the south very quickly! This year’s festivities begin on Friday, March 11 at noon with the Greening of the Fountains at Forsyth Park. Followed by the Celtic Cross Ceremony on Sunday, March 13 ending in Emmet Park to honor the city’s Irish heritage. The second-largest parade in the country will start at 10:15 a.m. on Thursday, March 17. From there the party begins with the all-day St. Patrick’s Day festival! If you plan to attend any of the festivities, be sure to get your green on, grab your ID and sunscreen, take a shuttle, and get there EARLY to claim a spot
Chicago, IL
Kick off your St. Patrick’s Day celebrations in Chicago the weekend of March 12! Gather around for Chicago’s most famous tradition of dyeing the Chicago River emerald, green at 9:00 a.m. The green river has been a part of the St. Patrick’s Day festivities since 1962 and typically leaves the water green for about 5 hours during the celebration. Shortly after, the parade will begin at 12:30 p.m. on Columbus Drive where you can enjoy live performances of bagpipes, drum corps, and dancers to celebrate all essential workers. For the post-parade party, be sure to get your ticket ahead of time and indulge in memorable bar crawls where there will be plenty of green beer and live music to go around. Why stop there? If you can’t make the celebration on Saturday, March 12 there are plenty of St. Patrick’s Day-themed events that will continue all month long!
Denver, CO
If you happen to be in Colorado in March, you won’t want to miss the St. Patrick’s Day fun. This year marks the 60th anniversary of the St. Patrick’s Day parade in downtown Denver. The parade will take place on Saturday, March 12 from 9:00 a.m. to noon. The parade is one of the largest in the country and features 175 floats, roughly 10,000 dancers, live bands, first responders, officials, etc. Following the parade, the St. Patrick’s Day Party kicks off at 11:00 a.m. at the Mile High Spirits and goes until 5:00 p.m. Tickets for the event are $25/person and attendees can enjoy live DJs, themed beer and cocktails, food, and inflatables to bounce on. Runners can participate in the Runnin’ of The Green 7k and 2-mile race on Sunday, March 13. This family-oriented race/walk will have live Irish music, Irish dancers, a beer garden, refreshments and so much more. Registration is still open!
San Francisco, CA
Don’t miss out on one of the most popular west coast St. Patty’s Day celebrations! The San Francisco St. Patrick’s Day Parade takes place on Saturday, March 12, and is hosted by the United Irish Societies. The annual parade marches down Market Street to the Civic Center Plaza. Where the first-ever Block Party will take place on Sunday, March 13th. The Greenfest Block Party is a family-friendly event from 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., full of music, beer, food, and authentic Irish goods. For those looking to celebrate on the actual holiday or the weekend after, check out the Leprechaun Pub Crawl! Dress in your best leprechaun costume or green attire to enjoy up to 20 bars with drink deals and, party busses! The two-day event will take place on the 17th from 6-9 p.m. and on the 19th from 2-8 p.m.
For all of the travelers currently on assignment or looking to extend, get your green on and enjoy the festivities wherever you are!
