Where to Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day

The Irish national day is celebrated every year on March 17, and it has grown outside of Ireland to involve raucous parties all over the world.

While the celebration gained a reputation for heavy drinking, there are a number of cities that offer other St. Patrick’s Day activities besides punishing your liver.

There is no shortage of bars in New York, but the city is also home to the oldest and biggest St. Patrick’s Day parade in the world. The procession can grow to around 150,000 strong, but you can always duck off into one of the Big Apple’s many Irish bars for a quick bit of refreshment.

Not too far away, in Chicago, another huge parade takes place. At the same time, around 100 pounds of dye are dumped into the Chicago River, turning it green in honor of Ireland and St. Patrick.

Dyeing the Chicago River Green for St. Patrick’s Day © Matthew Smith | Flickr

On the other side of the pond, the largest St. Patrick’s parade in the United Kingdom takes place in the second city of Birmingham. The route winds past Irish pubs and it is almost obligatory to stop in at least a couple.

Wherever you are in the world, you are likely to be able to find an “Irish pub,” with special promotions for the big day. However if you are looking for the most authentic St. Patrick’s day experience, where better than the Irish capital of Dublin?

Alongside parades, there are also free walking tours that give visitors a window into the history of this proud nation. Don’t forget to get a pint of Guinness!