Celebration of St. Patrick’s Day in America

St. Patrick’s Day is a good time to explore new destinations, but if you can’t make it to Ireland for a holiday, don’t worry. The United States has plenty of great places that offer some of the best opportunities to get in the Irish spirit. Here are some top destinations for your next St. Patty’s Day adventure.

1.   Boston, Massachusetts

St. Patrick’s Day is a holiday with deep roots in the culture of Boston, Massachusetts. Some say the holiday started there and spread out to other parts of the world, where it was eventually celebrated by both Irish and non-Irish people alike. Boston’s St. Patrick’s Day celebration is heavy on tradition and involves parades, parties, cathedrals, and even a little bit of booze.

2.   Washington, D.C.

St. Patrick’s Day in Washington, D.C., has all the usual parades and celebrations you’d expect, but it also has a few unique traditions that make it a holiday worth experiencing. One of these is the St. Patrick’s Day Festival at the National Building Museum. This great event features traditional Irish music, dance performances, and delicious food available for purchase. Another tradition you don’t want to miss is the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Alexandria. The parade goes through Old Town and ends at Market Square with live music and other entertainment for adults and children.

3.   Chicago, Illinois

St. Patrick’s Day in Chicago is like no other place on Earth. The city dyes the river green and throws a parade to celebrate the holiday every year. The parade has been going on for nearly 200 years, which is why it’s one of the oldest and largest St. Patrick’s Day parades in the world. The city also celebrates by hosting a dyeing event of the Chicago River before the parade, which draws thousands of people to watch.

4.   San Diego, California

St. Patrick’s Day in San Diego, California, is a time of unparalleled excitement. It begins with the Shamrock Run, a 5K and 8-mile race through downtown San Diego that attracts over 25,000 participants and includes a costume contest judged by local celebrities. Then it’s off to the Gaslamp District for the ShamROCK Block Party—a massive celebration with live music, food vendors, and beer tents set up on all five blocks of the historic Gaslamp Quarter. And if you’re looking for an experience that celebrates the Irish heritage of St. Patrick’s Day? Head over to Coronado Island, where they host the annual “Luck of the Coronado LEPRECHAUN Crawl.”

5.   Savannah, Georgia

St. Patrick’s Day in Savannah, Georgia, might sound like a fairly standard affair: shamrocks, green beer, leprechauns—maybe even a parade. But oh no! It’s much more than that! It’s the largest St. Patrick’s Day celebration globally (and the third-largest single-day event)! It’s so large that they have to split the parade into two days—and it’s been a tradition since 1813! Savannah also has a 100-foot tree made of Irish soda bread and Guinness stew that they light up every year to help usher at the end of winter and the beginning of spring.