They say that "everybody's Irish" on March 17: meaning that St. Patrick's Day celebrations are open to all.
St. Patricks Day can be a fun time for a family getaway, especially if falls during your child's Spring Break or March Break week. Families can visit cities that have parades and other activities... You may also find festivities in unexpected places-- such as ski resorts.
Note: that some parades are not held exactly on March 17th. Check dates carefully!
St. Patrick's Day Parades and other Festivities
- New York City St. Patrick's Day Parade
"Not to be missed" -- says About.com's Guide for New York City for about this popular parade on Fifth Avenue. The first official St. Patrick's Day Parade in New York City dates back to 1766! Interestingly, the Parade doesn't allow floats or cars, but it's a huge event, with over 150,000 marchers every year. Other St. Patrick's Day fun in NYC includes concerts and events for kids at city museums. Admittedly, this is not the best time of year in NYC weather-wise, but on the plus side March is less crowded than April and May and visitors can find bargain accommodations and flight availability. (Read more about Visiting NYC in March.)
- St. Patrick's Day in Boston
Massachusetts is America's most Irish state, and St. Patrick's Day celebrations in Boston started way back in 1737. The Parade has been a tradition for over a hundred years. About's Guide for Boston has the scoop on parades, concerts, races, Irish Heritage Trail, and more. About.com's Guide for New England Travel also has details about St. Patrick's Day events in Boston, where to find good corned beef and cabbage, etc.
- Washington DC Area
You'll find Parades in DC, Alexandria, and Gaithersburg; other fun includes the National Shamrock Festival, a big blast, with forty live bands, food, and fun for all ages.
- Detroit: St. Patrick's Day Parade
2009 will be the 51sth annual parade; the parade runs in a historic Irish enclave with floats, pipe bands, etc.
- Chicago St. Patrick's Day Parade
When festivities start with dyeing the Chicago River green, you know it's going to be a fun day. The Downtown Chicago Parade has marchers, floats, bands, bagpipers... Note that the parade is held on the Saturday before St. Patrick's Day.*
- Savannah, GA
Who knew? St. Patrick's Day is Savannah's biggest celebration and the second largest St. Patrick's Day event in the US. About 400,000 Irish (and honorary Irish) flood this unique town, where St. Patrick's Day festivities date back to 1813. Book lodgings early!
- Atlanta, GA
And also in Georgia: an annual St. Patrick's Day Parade that's been celebrated nearly 130 times in 152 years: over a mile long, with more than 200 units including ornate floats, marching bands, Irish dance schools, and lots more. Atlanta has a St. Patrick's Day Festival, too.
- St. Patrick's Day in Phoenix
And who also knew that Phoenix AZ celebrates St. Patrick's Day big time, with the "St. Patrick's Day Parade and Irish Family Faire"; some 50,000 spectators line the streets.
- St. Patrick's Day in Los Angeles
There's a Los Angeles St. Patrick's Day Parade, a South Bay Parade and Festival, the LA County Irish Fair and Music Festival -- watch the dates, as many events take place before March 17th.
- Vancouver BC
Over 300,000 people come out to celebrate this parade which has over 2000 participants including Celtic warriors, stilt-walkers, and Irish wolfhounds. The parade is part of four days of CelticFest Vancouver events; parade date may not fall on March 17th.
Besides such big-city celebrations, some unexpected places are Wearing the Green... For example, ski resorts.
St. Patrick's Day --in the Snow
Quite a few ski resorts celebrate St. Patrick's day, which -- with its March 17th date-- falls right in the middle of prime spring skiing weeks, and peak weaks for family spring break, as well. To give a few examples:
Copper Mountain CO -- a ski resort 75 miles from Denver -- has a St. Patrick's Day Celebration with bagpipers in the village, Irish fair, live music, torchlight parade, entertainers, bonfires, fireworks. Meanwhile, also in Colorado, Aspen / Snowmass -- a top ski resort-- has a St. Patrick's Day Celebration at Snowmass Village that proudly calls itself "raucous" -- but there are kids' activities too, and Irish step dancing.
Squaw Valley CA has a St. Patrick's Day Dinner at High Camp, and a Shamrock Scavenger Hunt on the mountain... and many other ski resorts are making merry and wearin' the green on March 17.
St. Patrick's Day - in the Caribbean
You won't find potatoes or green beer, but -- as About.com's Guide for Caribbean Travel points out-- the Caribbean does have some places with Irish heritage, and visitors can indeed find places to celebrate.
The tiny island of Montserrat received Irish indentured servants in the 17th century (at a time when other English-controlled Caribbean islands shunned the Irish) , and today St. Patrick's Day is a national holiday and festivities go on for an entire week. St. Croix and Grenada have events as well -- see Celebrate St. Patrick's Day in the Caribbean.
China
Irish Week in Shanghai - yes, Shanghai, in China; this annual event that started in 2007.
Ireland, Europe, and More
Last but very definitely not least: there's a whole country celebrating St. Patrick's Day... About's Guide for Ireland for Visitors has everything you need to know about St. Patrick, including the origins of the St. Patrick's Day Parade, and a giant Round-up of St. Patrick's Day Events, in Ireland, the USA, Caribbean, Australia, and elsewhere.
*Always check for updates and changes in dates!
