BlogOn St. Patrick’s Day, everybody is Irish, and everyone is celebrating. And this year, perhaps more than ever, people need a reason to celebrate. While many events are on hold or smaller than in the past, it’s still a day for fun.
Let’s look at some of the best places to be this March 17 as people around the world celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. And with a little Irish luck, we’ll all be out in the streets next year.
Dublin, Ireland
There’s nowhere better to celebrate than Dublin, Ireland, and this year the celebrations are back on. On St. Patrick’s Day, the city throws a parade of epic proportions. More than 50,000 people view the parade along its two mile route, which comes close to the new location of the iconic statue of the city’s favorite fishmonger, Molly Malone. It was on Grafton Street but is now even closer to the parade route at its new location on Suffolk Street.
Guinness Brewery
Is there a better place to spend St. Patrick’s Day than seeing the Guinness Brewery? A Dublin landmark since 1759, the Guinness Brewery first occupied a small area at St. James Gate.
The brewery now takes up several city blocks and is one of the most important landmarks in the city. Guinness is as Irish as four leaf clovers, or St. Patrick himself, and everyone should raise a pint on St. Patrick’s Day.
Blarney Stone
In the south of Ireland, in County Cork, is Blarney Castle, home of the Blarney Stone. Legend has it the stone, which was built into the castle’s high tower wall in 1446, will give whoever kisses the stone the gift of gab, or eloquence. The stone has become a major tourist destination in Ireland, but you’d better bring a buddy to hold you as you pucker up, because the stone is hard to reach on your own.
Boston, Massachusetts
Outside Ireland, there is no greater concentration of Irish people than in Boston, Massachusetts, and these folks know how to party! From parades to Irish rock concerts, to drinking with a hundred thousand of your closest friends, it’s the best place outside Dublin to be.
After a two-year hiatus, this year’s celebrations are back on! The parade will be held March 20, and the traditional Dropkick Murphy’s concert is on too! We’ll all be shipping up to Boston for these events!
Lots of visitors make a stop at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library in Boston to learn about the country’s most famous Irish-American.
One great place to gather for celebrations is historic Faneuil Hall, which always has a full schedule of events and entertainment for the Irish holiday.
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New York City, New York
New York City has a long and storied history with the Irish, and celebrates its Irish heritage in a big way. The city has a parade full of bagpipes, dancing and entertainment. The parade goes up 5th Avenue, past many major landmarks including St. Patrick’s Cathedral, of course.
The parade has been going since 1762, which makes it older than the United States itself. And after a Covid-induced break, we’ll all be happy to party on the streets of New York once more.
New York City was a major destination for Irish immigrants during years of hunger and famine. The Irish Hunger Memorial was constructed in 2002, to keep the memory of the Great Famine alive, and recognize the sacrifices of those who left Ireland, and the suffering of those left behind. Stones from every county in Ireland were included in the memorial.
Chicago, Illinois
Right up there with Boston and New York, Chicago celebrates like they mean it. On the Saturday closest to St. Patrick’s Day, the city holds a huge parade and dyes the Chicago River green. Visitors can catch the parade at Grant Park, a destination for Chicago public entertainment and activities. This year, the parade was held on March 12, and it felt good to see all the green again.
People often gather along the banks of the Chicago River early in the day to watch as it’s dyed green for the holiday. The green color only lasts about five hours so make sure you get a good spot early. Lots of people gather on Wacker Drive and the surrounding bridges to get a great view of the river.
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Halfway around the globe, St. Patrick’s Day is a big deal in Buenos Aires, Argentina. A huge expat community of Irish, as well as a city that loves to party, makes for a great St. Patrick’s Day celebration. Festivities include a large open air festival, near Reconquista Street.
The afternoon parade starts on Avenida de Maya and ends up at Plaza San Martin, where there are additional festivities, including food trucks, music, and, of course, beer.
No matter where you are this March 17, don’t forget to wear green, kiss someone, and of course, have a beer or two. Because on St. Patrick’s Day, everyone is Irish, and everyone deserves to party.
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