St. Patrick's Day is just around the corner and you know what that means. A lot of green, a lot of shamrocks, a lot of very busy Irish pubs in your city, and parades - there's always a parade. Some of the best St. Patrick’s Day parades will blow your mind. Sure, Dublin seems like a worthy place to host it, but some of the other cities around the world that host epic St. Patrick's Day parades might not seem so obvious. So put on your best St. Patrick's Day attire and get ready to express your excitement appropriately.
St. Patrick's Day commemorates the death of Ireland's most important saint, St. Patrick, and of course celebrates Irish culture. If you'd rather watch a parade and immerse yourself in the vibrant and vibrant Irish culture than drink a pint of green beer, your city may host a festival or parade, especially in the United States where many people have Irish ancestry . In the meantime, if you're looking to travel, or happen to be near one of these locations, here are the best St. Patrick's Day parades you can attend.
1.Dublin, Ireland
If you really want to get your St. Patrick's Day parade right, you want to be the centerpiece of Dublin, Ireland. Between March 17th and March 20th, Dublin is buzzing with activity and celebrations, and the parade itself is organized by 8 pageant companies in Dublin and features over 14 musical groups from around the world. The parade takes six months to prepare, and although I've never witnessed it in person, judging from the photos on the Dublin St. Patrick's Day Parade website, it looks absolutely stunning.
2. Boston, Massachusetts
An estimated 33% of Boston's population is of Irish descent. So Boston sets off on St. Patrick's Day. The Boston St. Patrick's Day Parade is the second largest parade in the United States, with 600,000 to 1 million people participating, and many more watching the parade live on television. The parade begins in South Boston, where you can expect a performance by the Dropkick Murphys at the front, as well as green beer and many tributes to JFK. It is also the oldest parade in the United States, with the first held in 1737.
3.London, UK
The London St. Patrick's Day Parade is always held on the Sunday closest to the 17th, so this year it will be held on March 13, starting in Piccadilly and following a half-mile route through the city. Trafalgar Square will also host an Irish Festival, offering Irish artisanal food, music, dance and other events. If you want to see central London packed with people wearing green, this is the perfect opportunity. If you're lucky, you might even see Kate, Will, and Prince George honoring veterans at the parade (it's definitely worth braving the crowds).
4. New York, New York
If there's anything to do with an occasion, party, dress, and culture, expect New York to do it big. The New York St. Patrick's Day Parade is as legendary as all New York parades. It is the largest St. Paddy's Day parade in the United States, with more than 2 million people participating. The parade goes down 5th Avenue and I just learned from the official website that pets are not allowed so be prepared for a human only event.
5. Chicago, IL
Chicago is famous for dyeing its rivers green on St. Patrick's Day, and apparently the Chicago St. Patrick's Day Parade doesn't disappoint either. The "theme" of this year's parade is "Commemorating the 100th Anniversary of the Easter Rising," and the parade included an appearance at St. Louis Church in Chicago, among other activities. St. Patrick's Day Queen Erin Mulcahy and the annual corned beef and cabbage dinner.
6. Savannah, Georgia
If you compare the attendance (750,000) to the city's population (136,286), Savannah will host the largest St. Patrick's Day parade in the United States Savannah, Georgia's St. Patrick's Day Parade is truly epic, and it seems About half the city will be closed, according to the parade's website. I bet you never thought Savannah was a popular spot in St. Pat's, right?
7. Tokyo, Japan
There are a few places you might not immediately think of when you think of St. Patrick’s Day, but Tokyo actually loves to celebrate the day. Tokyo's St. Patrick's Day parade only started in 1992, but now attracts more than 50,000 attendees, with numbers growing every year.
8. Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City became home to many Irish people in the 19th century, and its St. Patrick's Day parade now attracts more than 200,000 spectators, nearly half of the city's population. This year, KC is hosting a food drive to help the hungry (if you want to do something good while celebrating), and a golf tournament (if you want to do something really, really boring while celebrating).
Image: Getty Images (4)
