Green green grass, green green sky, you better throw a party for the saint in the sky! St. Patrick’s Day is on the horizon, giving us many reasons to paint the town green!
While you may love your own routine or tradition, if you want to experience something different, there’s plenty of other parades and gatherings you can attend. We’ve gathered together the best city locations to highlight how they celebrate March 17th every year.
North American St. Patrick’s Day Celebrations
Boston, Massachusetts
Date: Sunday, March 15.
The Parade: Kicks off at 1:00 PM at the Broadway T Station.
The Celebration: Known as one of most Irish cities in the U.S., Boston’s parade doubles as ‘Evacuation Day,’ marking the 1776 departure of British troops. Expect a high-energy mix of historical trail tours, colorful floats, and massive crowds lining the 3-mile route to Andrew Square.
Savannah, Georgia
Date: Tuesday, March 17.
The Parade: Festivities start off with a special mass at 8:00 AM in the Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist, followed by a procession which begins at 10:15 AM.
The Celebration: Savannah hosts the largest event in the Southern States. A unique tradition here is the ‘Greening of the Fountain’ in Forsyth Park, where the water is dyed a bright green. It’s a massive street party known for its hospitality and ‘To-Go’ cup culture in the historic district.
Chicago, Illinois
Date: Saturday, March 14.
The Parade: The downtown parade begins at 12:15 PM at Balbo and Columbus Drive.
The Celebration: The world-famous river dyeing happens at 10:00 AM. This sets the stage for a high-energy parade that features floats prominently when compared to the on-foot processions in New York City.
Denver, Colorado
Date: Saturday, March 14.
The Parade: Starts at 9:30 AM near Coors Field (20th and Blake St).
The Celebration: Denver is a family-friendly parade featuring western elements you won’t see back east – horses, stagecoaches, and even the occasional Irish-themed cowboy! Unsure if there were ever cowboys in Ireland, but mixing traditions can be good for all!
Montreal, Québec
Date: Sunday, March 22.
The Parade: Expected to start at 12:00 PM on the corner of Fort and De Maisonneuve Street, and end in the middle of downtown.
The Celebration: There’s a massive three-hour spectacle featuring hundreds of floats and marching bands. A unique local touch is the Giant Shamrock, and the mix of Irish/French energy means you’ll hear people cheering or see signs stating “Happy St. Patrick’s Day” and “Bonne Saint-Patrick” in equal measure.
South American St. Patrick’s Day Celebrations
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Date: Tuesday, March 17.
The Parade: Centers on the ‘Fiesta de San Patricio,’ where a colorful parade winds from the corner of Arroyo and Suipacha toward Plaza San Martín.
The Celebration: The parade is a cultural mashup where traditional Irish bagpipers with Argentine tango dancers, followed up with a massive party on Reconquista Street.
Montserrat, Caribbean Sea
Date: Tuesday, March 17.
The Parade: Starts mid-afternoon through the village of Salem.
The Celebration: Before the final parade, the island hosts a vibrant 10-day festival featuring heritage feasts, competitive runs, and academic lectures. The schedule is packed with cultural performances, including Masquerade dancers who blend African rhythms with Irish-inspired footwork to honor the island’s unique dual ancestry.
Fun Fact: Montserrat is the only place in the world outside of Ireland where St. Patrick’s Day is a public holiday!
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Date: Tuesday, March 17.
The Celebration: As there’s no parade in Rio, their national statue, Christ the Redeemer, is illuminated in green light to mark the day. Nearby, in the Lapa neighborhood there’ll be street parties and many more events to commemorate the day.
Montevideo, Uruguay
Date: Tuesday, March 17.
The Celebration: The party centers around the Shannon Irish Pub, where the street is blocked off for live traditional music. It’s a late-night culture; the music usually doesn’t stop until dawn, with local bands playing Irish jigs with a South American rhythmic twist.
Bogotá, Colombia
Date: Tuesday, March 17.
The Celebration: While there isn’t a city-wide parade, the ‘Irish’ pubs in Bogotá (like The Irish Pub in the Zona T) host massive festivals. As Colombia is known for such a vibrant music culture, you’ll often hear bagpipes being played alongside local instruments, creating a unique Andean-Irish sound!
Five Fun Facts about Ireland/Irish Tradition
- Did you know Dublin is the third smallest county in Ireland? There’s plenty more to experience outside of Temple Bar.
- Saint Patrick is of Roman descent: while he’s the patron saint of Ireland, he wasn’t born in the country.
- Beyond a simple charm for luck, the shamrock was originally used by Saint Patrick to illustrate the Holy Trinity, though it has since evolved into a global symbol of renewed life, vitality, and growth.
- 10% of the Irish population has red (ginger hair)!
- Ireland is roughly the size of South Carolina, but it packs a world-famous coastal route known as the Wild Atlantic Way. This trail stretches 1,500 plus miles along the rugged west coast, offering travelers endless landscapes to explore.
We’ve mapped out the best destinations for your Irish festivities, but you can skip the travel expenses and bring the energy straight to your own front door by throwing a “St. Patrick’s Day Party That’s Pure Gold.“
Whether you rock a St Patricks Day shirt, sport a green button, or take to social media to share your heritage with the world, we wish you the best of luck with your celebrations!
Happy Saint Patrick’s Day!
Hazel is a content specialist that reigns from the amazing land of Cork, Ireland. If her natural red hair doesn’t showcase her Irish roots, her love of humor and spontaneous outbursts would be a clear indicator. When she’s not looking out for her amazing team mates, she’s usually re-writing song lyrics – tirelessly trying to incorporate them into her writing pieces. She has a quirky, lively, and caring personality and her little dog Eddie makes her the happiest overall.
