Experience the Magic of the Best St. Patrick's Day Parades

It’s hard to find someone who wouldn’t love to travel to Ireland. The people are welcoming; the green lands look like nothing else on earth; and the culture and traditions have lasted for centuries. 

So, when St. Patrick’s Day rolls around, everybody’s on board to celebrate. And, since the Irish are a hospitable people, they’re more than happy to welcome everybody to the party. 

The origins of the day have gotten a little bit watered down. It’s meant to honor St. Patrick, the patron saint who brought Christianity to Ireland. But, he’s still at the heart of it all. 

If you’re ready to celebrate one of the world’s most colorful cultures, go ahead and grab your “Kiss me, I’m Irish” t-shirt, get out to a packed parade, and then raise a pint at the local pub. 

Below, we’ve listed out some of the best parades on either side of the Atlantic. Whether you find yourself in the States or the Emerald Isle, any one of these will light a spark in your soul. 

Dublin, Ireland

Let’s start with the capital, shall we?  To no surprise, Dublin’s parade is one of the largest parades in the world – and rightly so. There will be more than 4,000 participants, including marching bands from all over the world. 

As with most cities in Ireland, this celebration is about so much more than the parade itself. The whole city throws a three-day festival jam-packed with live music sessions, city tours, Irish step dancing, and more. Seas of people will make their way to the Temple Bar area where the traditional Irish music, or trad, will float through the air from sun-up to sun-down. 

New York, New York

In terms of Stateside festivities, New York will always take the cake. It is, in fact, the largest parade in the world – even surpassing Dublin. More than 150,000 people will march in the parade and over two million people will tune in to watch. 

It travels down the most renowned street in Manhattan, Fifth Avenue. Meaning, once you’ve had your fill, all you have to do is peel off and head over to 1st or 2nd Avenue which just so happens to be loaded with Irish pubs. There, you’ll enjoy a fresh pint and plenty of live Irish music to fill the night. 

Galway, Ireland

Two hours across the country from Dublin, you’ll find a sweet little city on the West Coast called Galway. Like Dublin, you’re looking at a three-day festival filled with live Irish music and a massive parade on Monday. 

On Saturday, you’ll particularly enjoy Indie Music day where emerging artists make their debut. There will also be electricity in the air when the trad extravaganza is on. The city’s main square lights up in green on the big day and, when the parade is through, you won’t have to go far to find a pub with open doors, music pouring out, and plenty of joy filling the air. 

Boston, Massachusetts

Can you believe Boston had its first St. Patrick’s Day Parade in 1737? Then, in 1901, the route moved to South Boston due to its huge Irish population. South Boston is also home to Dorchester Heights, the place where the British troops were evacuated from Boston in the Revolutionary War. 

So, there’s a major fighting spirit in the air, which will pair well with a parade followed by some rebel music in the Irish pubs. Instead of hosting the parade on the actual day, the Boston parade always runs on the Sunday closest to March 17th.

Cork, Ireland

Speaking of rebels, Cork is known as the Rebel County. So, if you’re in the mood to let your hair down and experience the true fighting spirit, come to Cork. 

Cork City is larger than Galway, but smaller than Dublin, making it a good middle ground in the south of the country. Cork’s festival runs from Friday the 14th through Monday the 17th. Throughout all three days, you’ll find boatloads of Irish music before the actual parade on Monday. 

Savannah, Georgia

Since Savannah is so steeped in history, you won’t be surprised to learn that they’ve held their St. Patrick’s Day parade since 1824. The city keeps its focus on the true meaning of the day, as well, by putting the focus on a pre-parade morning mass at the beautiful Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist. Then, the parade kicks off at 10:15 am, marching straight through the heart of downtown. 

Which Will You Choose? 

There you have it! These are some of the liveliest, most historic parades on either side of the Atlantic. You’ll see some of the best pipe bands in the world marching down the streets. Amidst the seas of people dressed in green, you’re sure to enjoy every moment of it and meet a host of new people. 

Try to get a good night’s rest beforehand so you can carry on to the local Irish pub and hear some real Irish music. On this day, everyone’s Irish and we can’t think of anything better than that. As we move from season to season, and holiday to holiday, keep coming back for more unique ways to make the most of it all.