Now you might be saying “ahh sure St Patrick’s day is ages away!” But it comes around fast: check how many days until St Patrick’s Day.
You could argue that most of the world celebrates St Patrick’s day but there are certain locations around the world that take it to the next level!
These are in no particular order. I couldn’t rank them because they all have their own unique pros and cons. Well, to be honest, they are all pro’s haha.
1. Best place to celebrate St Patrick’s day: Dublin, Ireland
Dublin! Yes indeed. The streets are full, the Guinness is flowing and everyone has a smile on their face. Ireland is one of only two countries in the world that have a national holiday on St Patrick’s day.
Don’t worry the second country is on this list. The parade is part of Dublin’s five-day festival (it usually runs for several days around 17 March) that features beer and whiskey festivals, funfairs, and free live music.
Trust me you will have great craic in Dublin!
You can see all the events happening in Dublin here.
20 Surprising And Interesting St Patrick’s Day Facts For 2024☘️
2. Best place to celebrate St Patrick’s day: Chicago, USA
If there is a second place that goes 120% on St Patrick’s day it is Chicago! They dye the river green just for this occasion. You might be thinking that they just started this tradition. But in fact, they have been dyeing the river every year since 1962!
Don’t worry dye is environmentally friendly, the city says the vegetable-based dye is safe for the river.
You can see what’s on this year at Choose Chicago
3. Best place to celebrate St Patrick’s day: Montserrat, Carribean (BOT)
Looking for an extremely unique St Patrick’s day this year? Montserrat is calling your name. To be on Montserrat for the St. Patrick’s Festival is to feel both the vibrant culture of the island and the unique history that ties them to this day.
The Caribbean Island of Montserrat is the only place outside of Ireland where St. Patricks Day is a national holiday.
On this day, visitors passports are even stamped with a shamrock.
They don’t take this celebration likely. In fact, the St Patrick’s Festival is a weeklong celebration highlighting Montserrat’s African and Irish heritage.
It culminates on St. Patrick’s Day, March 17.
The celebration also commemorates the thwarted slave uprising which was planned on that very day, back in 1768. Highlights of the festival include African and Irish music performances, a freedom run, and a recreated slave village and feast.
You can learn more about the Black Irish here.
For event details and what is happening on St Patrick’s day visit their official website here.
4. Best place to celebrate St Patrick’s day: New York City, USA
I know, I know another US destination. But you can’t ignore the fact that New York arguably has one of the biggest St Patrick’s day celebrations.
It is in fact the biggest! With around 150,000 marchers and close to 2 million spectators, and a history going back to 1762, the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in New York City is the world’s largest St. Patrick’s Day parade.
Which makes it a more than worthy addition to this list. On this day you will find the streets green and plenty of green beer.
The parade kicks off on 44th Street at 11 am and marches up 5th Avenue to 79th Street, passing St Patrick’s Cathedral along the way. Be sure to get there early for a good spot and wear something green!
Full event details on their official website here.
5. Best place to celebrate St Patrick’s day: Sydney, Australia
Sydney has one of the biggest Irish communities in the southern hemisphere, and it was here, in 2010, that the Sydney Opera House became the first landmark to go green for St Patrick’s Day, starting Tourism Ireland’s Global Greening. The festival has had its ups and downs over the years, but the Irish community keeps it going.
The largest community of Irish immigrants in Australia resides in Sydney and my other blog Irish Around Oz has an incredible Facebook community in Irish Around Sydney.
For more event details visit their Facebook page.
More great places to celebrate
6. Boston, USA
Boston’s South Boston parade is one of the biggest in America, and the city has deep Irish roots: Massachusetts has one of the highest shares of Irish-Americans in the country. Go for the parade, stay for the pubs.
7. Savannah, Georgia, USA
It surprises people, but Savannah has held a St Patrick’s Day parade since 1824, and it’s one of the largest in the United States. The city even dyes its fountains green.
8. Montreal, Canada
Montreal’s parade is the oldest in Canada, first held in 1824. The city’s flag even includes a shamrock, a nod to the Irish who helped build it.
This list is but a tiny selection of the amazing celebrations that will take part around the world. Other popular locations include London, Buenos Aires, Boston and many more.
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Pin photo: Bagpipers on the Chicago River, St Patrick’s Day 2015, by Scott L, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
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