40 best US cities to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day
Last updated on April 5th, 2026.
St. Patrick’s Day 2026 was a record-breaking year for Irish heritage in the US. It was marked by surprising new rankings and the expansion of the Global Greening initiative.
If you’re already scouting the best parades for 2027, this guide breaks down the 40 best cities to experience the Emerald Isle in America.
Every year on 17 March there’s one color that reigns supreme above the rest.
And whether you’re someone of Irish descent, or are Irish on the inside, St. Patrick's Day welcomes everybody.
Though St. Patrick’s Day is official only a holiday in Ireland, it doesn’t stop other countries from celebrating.
Around the US are many cities with a significant Irish diaspora, with communities eager to mark the day. In this post, I’ll be listing 40 of the best US cities to celebrate St Patrick’s Day.
From Boston to Worcester County, use this guide to find the top places and best parades to celebrate St Patrick’s Day.
Take note that many of the parades happen on different dates throughout March. Some St. Patrick’s Day parades can take place on the first weekend, while others happen on, around, or after 17 March.
Why do people celebrate St Patrick’s Day?
People from Irish descent celebrate St Patrick’s Day to honor Saint Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland.
The day is as much a religious holiday as it is a cultural one. Saint Patrick is credited with bringing Christianity to Ireland, and the day is an occasion for religious observances and reflection.
On the cultural side, people celebrate their Irish heritage through events such as parades and festivals, and by wearing green.
What is the importance of the color green on St. Patrick’s Day?
There are several reasons why green is strongly associated with St. Patrick's Day and Irish culture in general.
- According to legend, Saint Patrick used the shamrock (a three-leaf clover) to explain the Holy Trinity to the Irish people.
- Ireland is known as the ‘Emerald Isle, a reference to its lush green landscapes. Green has therefore become a symbol of Ireland and is often used to represent the country and its culture.
- Wearing green on St. Patrick's Day is a tradition that dates to the 17th century. During this time, green was worn as a sign of Irish pride and to show solidarity with other Irish people.
Today, wearing green on St. Patrick's Day has become a global tradition. It’s common to see people dressed in green clothing and accessories and for pubs and bars to serve green beverages.
Some cities, like Chicago, also dye their river green to mark St Patrick’s Day.
Jump to:
Best US cities to celebrate St Patrick’s Day
Prepare to go all out with the top parades, events, and festivities in these US cities. Here are some of the best places to celebrate St. Patrick's Day in the US.
East coast
- New York City, New York: The St. Patrick's Day parade in New York City is one of the largest in the world. Dating to 1762, it includes over 150,000 participants and attracts 2 million spectators. The parade traditionally travels 1.5 miles up the iconic Fifth Avenue shopping street. New York City and Boston are the US cities with the most famous St. Patrick’s Day parades.
- Boston, Massachusetts: One of the oldest St Patrick’s Day parades in the US, Boston held its first one in 1737. Drawing hundreds of thousands of spectators each year, the parade takes place on the Sunday closest to St Patrick’s Day.
- Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: Around ⅕ of Pittsburgh’s population is of Irish descent. Because of this, its St. Patrick's Day parade is one of the largest, attracting more than 200,000 attendees each year. The parade features Irish dancers, bagpipers, and floats and is one for the whole family to enjoy.
- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Philadelphia's St. Patrick's Day parade is the second oldest of its kind in the country. The parade features marching bands, floats, fiddlers, banjos and plenty of Irish pride. It typically takes place around 11am the Sunday before St. Patrick’s Day. The parade route usually starts at JFK Boulevard and ends in Market Street.
- Hartford, Connecticut: Hartford's St. Patrick's Day parade is a festive and family-friendly event, featuring Irish step dancing, bagpipers, and more.
- Albany, New York: Albany's St. Patrick's Day parade is the largest in the capital region and attracts thousands of attendees each year. The parade features marching bands, Irish step dancers, and much more.
- Newport, Rhode Island: Marching bands, bagpipers, and colorful floats are what you can expect at Newport's St. Patrick's Day parade. The parade usually starts from Newport City Hall and includes pipe bands, marching bands and fife and drum corps.
More St. Patrick's Day parades in the east
- Annapolis, Maryland: The St. Patrick's Day parade in Annapolis typically takes place during the first weekend in March. A lively and colorful event, it features marching bands, bagpipers, and Irish dancers. It runs for around 2.5 hours.
- Manchester, New Hampshire: Manchester's St. Patrick's Day parade begins at the north end of Elm Street and lasts for around an hour. Usually taking place in late March and after St Patrick’s Day, the festivities continue in Elm Street’s bars and restaurants.
- Baltimore, Maryland: The St. Patrick's Day parade in Baltimore has been taking place for over 65 years. With colorful floats, marching bands, and lively Irish music and dance it’s a fun-filled event for families. The parade moves from downtown Baltimore to the Inner Harbor area.
- Rochester, New York: Rochester's St. Patrick's Day parade follows a traditional route. Starting at East and Alexander, it heads down East Avenue and ends at the Liberty Pole. The parade is typically followed by an Irish festival with plenty of food vendors, live music, and more.
- Worcester County, Massachusetts: One of the largest in New England, the St. Patrick's Day parade usually begins around midday. Enjoy watching the colorful floats, marching bands, and St. Patrick’s Day festivities.
- Providence, Rhode Island: Taking place the Sunday after St. Patrick’s Day, the parade usually begins at Smith Street and Hilltop Avenue. It then proceeds onto Smith Street and ends at the Rhode Island State House. The city's Federal Hill neighborhood is fitting as the parade’s location as it’s home to many Irish pubs and restaurants. Be sure to look out for any St. Patrick's Day specials.
Map: best US cities to celebrate St Patrick's Day
West coast
- San Francisco, California: One of the largest on the West Coast, the St. Patrick's Day parade in San Francisco is a true spectacle. Starting at Market Street, it attracts over 100,000 attendees, including prominent public figures and services from San Francisco. The parade usually ends at the Civic Center Plaza, which is where they host the annual Irish Festival.
- Seattle, Washington: With Seattle being a sister city of Galway in Ireland, you can expect a fun-filled experience on St. Patrick's Day. The celebration includes a parade and a ceremonial painting of a green stripe on 4th Avenue. Also, in the run up to St. Patrick’s Day is the Irish Week Festival. It includes Irish step dancing, traditional food and Irish language lessons.
- Hermosa Beach, California: Add a beautiful coastline and plenty of Californian sunshine to your St. Patrick’s Day celebrations at Hermosa Beach. Green-clad attendees get to enjoy a parade with bagpipers, unique vehicles and Irish-themed floats. The parade usually starts at City Hall and ends at the corner of Hermosa Avenue.
- Sedona, Arizona: The annual St. Patrick's Day parade in Sedona begins from Jordan Historical Park and ends at Mesquite Avenue. Expect plenty of lively marching bands, bagpipers, and traditional Irish dancers.
- Butte, Montana: Butte has a strong Irish heritage from its mining connection and is considered one of the most ‘Irish places in the US.’ Because of this, it hosts one of the largest St. Patrick's Day celebrations in the west. The city's parade begins at the corner of Arizona and Granite and ends on Arizona Street.
- Sacramento, California: The Old Sacramento St. Patrick's Day parade is one of the most colorful and largest after San Francisco. Featuring over 50 units and 1,000 marchers, you can enjoy the festivities of Irish and Highland dances and brass bands. Live entertainment and a vendor village is also on site all day.
St. Patrick’s Day 2026: the year of the underdog
2026 brought a significant shift in the national rankings.
While Boston remained the cultural heavyweight, Reno, Nevada took the no.2 spot nationwide.
Travelers in 2026 prioritized Reno for its affordability and its Leprechaun Crawl. It showed that the best celebrations aren't always on the east coast.
Midwest
- Chicago, Illinois: Aside from its lively St. Patrick’s Day parade, around 400,000 people flock to Chicago to see its river dyed a fabulous green. The parade usually takes place on the Saturday before St. Patrick’s Day (unless the day falls on a Saturday). Attendees are asked to arrive early and to use public transport given that the roads will be closed.
- Dublin, Ohio: Hosting the ‘greenest, grandest St. Patrick’s Day parade’, you’d expect nothing less from the city of Dublin. The parade typically begins at Metro Center and travels through the historic Dublin center. Look forward to live bands, equestrian teams and colorful floats.
- Milwaukee, Wisconsin: Milwaukee's St. Patrick's Day parade is one of the state’s oldest annual traditions. The parade begins at North MLK Drive and West Wisconsin Avenue, before traveling through downtown Milwaukee’s entertainment districts. With over 100 units that includes Irish dance groups and pipe and drum corps, it makes for a fun-filled family event.
- Kansas City, Missouri: The Kansas City St. Patrick's Day parade is one of the few that takes place every 17 March. Beginning at 11am and wrapping up around 1.30pm, come to see traditional Irish dancers, bagpipers, and much more.
- Des Moines, Iowa: The St. Patrick's Day festivities in Des Moines extend beyond its colorful parade. On 17 March, the city also hosts a St. Patrick's Day party, which runs from 9am into the early hours.
More St. Patrick's Day parades in the midwest
- St. Louis, Missouri: Recognized as one of the best parades in the US, a fun day out is guaranteed in St. Louis. Its parade includes marching bands, larger-than-life character balloons and over 5,000 marchers. With approximately 250,000 spectators, you can expect a good St. Patrick's Day show.
- St. Joseph, Missouri: The St. Patrick's Day parade began in St. Joseph in 1867. It was later revived in 1986 to celebrate the heritage and culture of its Irish-descent residents. Including floats, Irish music and plenty of good vibes, the parade typically starts at Frederick and Noyes.
- Indianapolis, Indiana: The family-friendly St. Patrick's Day parade consists of Irish-themed floats, helium balloons, marching bands, music and Irish dancers. Usually kicking off at 11:30, the parade lasts for around 2 hours. Other themed activities can include a tent and block party. It is 100% free and open to the public.
- Springfield, Illinois: Springfield's St. Patrick's Day marching band parade usually takes place the Saturday before 17 March. Featuring one of the best school marching bands in the Midwest, floats and other entries, it’s one not to miss.
- Cedar Rapids, Iowa: the city has been hosting a St. Patrick’s Day parade since 1976. Colorful floats, plenty of music and lively spectators, the annual event draws people back every year. What makes Cedar Rapids one of the best US cities to celebrate St Patrick's Day is the ‘Irish Coleen’. A young girl of Irish descent is chosen by a panel of judges to partake in St. Patrick’s Day activities.
- Oklahoma City, Oklahoma: Usually taking place the weekend after St. Patrick’s Day, the annual parade in Oklahoma City is loved by many. Look forward to watching Irish dancers, bagpipers, vintage cars and more in the colorful parade. The parade route usually begins at the intersection of Exchange Avenue and Pennsylvania Avenue.
Southern states
- Savannah, Georgia: Savannah is known for its lively St. Patrick's Day celebrations. They include a parade, multiple parties, and a ‘greening’ of the fountain in Forsyth Park. The Georgian city has been celebrating the feast of Saint Patrick since 1824. One of the largest St. Patrick's Day parades in the country, more than 300,000 people attend each year.
- St. Augustine, Florida: Historic archives revealed that St. Augustine hosted the first St. Patrick's Day parade in the US in 1601. Today, the parade travels through the historic downtown area. Featuring colorful floats, marching bands, and plenty of green-clad revelers, many stay after for the Irish festival and delicious food.
- New Orleans, Louisiana: Though known for its Mardi Gras festivities, New Orleans also hosts a lively St. Patrick's Day celebration. With multiple parades, parties, and events, it always promises to be a memorable time.
- Hot Springs, Arkansas: Hot Springs may not be the first place that comes to mind when you think of St. Patrick's Day. But every year the city hosts the ‘World's Shortest St. Patrick's Day Parade on the 98ft-long Bridge Street. The annual event features standard parade festivities, live music and well-known celebrities.
- Baton Rouge, Louisiana: The ‘Wearing of the Green Parade’ in Baton Rouge includes antique cars, twirlers, street performers, and plenty of Irish cheer. The parade ends with a block party with food vendors, games, and activities for all ages. Other fun St. Patrick’s Day events in Baton Rouge worth checking out include the Shamrock Run.
Savannah, Georgia: The emerald city of the south
Savannah hosts one of the largest St. Patrick’s Day celebrations in the world, a tradition that dates back to 1824.
While many cities move their festivities to the nearest weekend, Savannah famously holds its historic parade on March 17th, regardless of the day of the week.
2026 recap
Even though St. Patrick’s Day fell on a Tuesday in 2026, Savannah saw large crowds that rivaled weekend years.
- The 202-year tradition: the 2026 parade featured over 300 units. It included the iconic pipe and drum bands and floats that travel through the city’s historic squares.
- Tuesday chill: spectators in 2026 braved a morning chill (lows in the 30s) to secure spots in the squares before sunrise. Traveler’s note: unlike in some regions, St. Patrick’s Day is not a legal holiday in Savannah. However, local schools and many downtown businesses close for the day to accommodate the 5-hour procession.
Planning for 2027 in Savannah
If you’re planning on visiting in 2027, keep in mind that the celebration is a season, not just a day.
- The greening of the fountain: this usually takes place in Forsyth Park on the first Friday of March.
- Seating strategy: for 2027, consider booking reserved bleacher seating at least 3 months in advance. These are usually located on Bay Street or near the Cathedral Basilica. In 2026, these seats were sold out weeks before the event.
More St. Patrick's Day parades in the south
- Norfolk, Virginia: Taking place the Saturday after St. Patrick's Day, the Norfolk parade usually starts at 10am. Including bands, clowns, floats, cars and plenty of space for spectators, it’s 2 hours of good family fun.
- Fort Lauderdale, Florida: Prepare to paint the town green at the Fort Lauderdale St. Patrick's Day parade. Typically starting at midday, the parade travels from Terramar Street to Las Olas Boulevard. A St. Patrick’s Day festival also takes place with live music, cultural activities and traditional food and drink.
- Greenville, South Carolina: Greenville's St. Patrick's Day parade is a fun and festive event. Expect plenty of lively traditional Irish music, bagpipers, and colorful floats. The parade usually starts in NOMA Square and is followed by an Irish festival hosting food vendors and live music.
- Charleston, South Carolina: The St. Patrick's Day parade in Charleston usually begins at 10am by St. Patrick’s Catholic Church. Enjoy a parade filled with fire trucks, marching bands, fiddlers and Charleston Irish step dancers. After the parade, take advantage of the St. Patrick Day offers in the downtown area’s bars and restaurants.
- Lexington, Kentucky: Lexington's St. Patrick's Day parade is typically celebrated the Saturday before and begins with a ‘blessing of the keg’. This marks the start of a free festival with entertainment from live bands and Irish local dancers. Around 1pm, the parade begins from its starting position on Main Street.
2026 Global Greening landmarks
At dusk on March 17th, 2026, the US joined a worldwide green wave. The most-shared landmarks from this year included:
- The Empire State Building (NYC): glowing emerald above the 5th Avenue parade route.
- Niagara Falls (NY): a striking 2026 display that drew thousands of photographers.
- The Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas Sign (NV): a main highlight for the west coast festivities.
St. Patrick’s Day FAQs
St. Patrick's Day 2027 will fall on Wednesday, March 17th. Expect many major parades (like those in Boston and Chicago) to take place on the preceding weekend, Saturday, March 13th, 2027.
St. Augustine, Florida holds the record for the oldest recorded St. Patrick's Day celebration. While Boston (1737) and NYC (1762) are more famous, St. Augustine’s parade dates to 1601.
Reno earned its no.2 spot due to several factors. They included a combination of high safety scores, low hotel costs compared to NYC and the large scale of its downtown pub crawl.
1. New York, New York
2. Boston, Massachusetts
3. Chicago, Illinois
4. Savannah, Georgia
5. San Francisco, California
6. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
St. Patrick’s Day 2026 wrap up
Now that the 2026 parades have marched and the rivers have been dyed, how did the celebrations stack up?
Were you part of the 30,000 leprechauns at the Reno Crawl or did you catch the Savannah parade at the crack of dawn? 2026 proved to be a record-breaking year for Irish heritage in the U.S.
Which city did it best?
- Savannah, GA saw record attendance this year, likely due to the unseasonably cool but sunny 55°F weather that made for perfect parade-watching conditions.
- The party capital of Reno, NV officially solidified its no.2 national ranking. The 2026 crawl had over 40 participating venues. It remains the undisputed destination for those looking for a high-energy, 'no last call' experience.
- The Global Greening initiative was a social media success. Hundreds of participants shared their photos of the green Niagara Falls and Empire State Building’s tower across various platforms.
Planning for St. Patrick’s Day 2027
St. Patrick's Day falls on a Wednesday in 2027. NYC, Boston and Chicago are expected to host their largest festivities on the weekend of March 13th to 14th.
If you’re planning to visit a top-tier city like Savannah or Reno, book your accommodation at least 6 months in advance. It’s essential for avoiding the 2026 price spikes that we saw.
📌 Traveler’s note: many cities will hold their major parades on Saturday, March 13th, 2027. Traditional religious and cultural ceremonies will be kept for the 17th.
Did you visit one of the best US cities to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day today? Drop a comment below and tell me which parade had the best energy this year.
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission if you click a link and purchase something that I’ve recommended. Thank you for your support.
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Savannah, GA has an outstanding St Paddy's celebration. A very long, long parade. So long that we walked a couple blocks to the old warehouse district where many watering holes and restaurants are to celebrate at Jimmy Buffets Margaritaville restaurant and bar. Thousands of people attend this celebration that extends all day and night.
That sounds like a lot of fun!
This an excellent guide to the best places to celebrate St. Patrick's Day! It's hard to decide what to choose, but I think the first place I put Chicago to see the green river. Also, St. Louis seems perfect for me, as it is recognized as one of the best parades in the US. I know Mardi Gras, so I would also like to visit New Orleans during St Patrcs Day, as they know how to prepare a grand parade!
Thank you Agnes! New Orleans puts on a great St Patrick's Day parade too, it can compete with other traditional cities 😀
Where I live in England, nobody really celebrates St. Patrick's day beyond pubs have deals on boose. It would be amazing to actually be able to celebrate it like this in America!
That's a shame there are no parades there! At least the pubs will be decorative 🙂
Thanks for educating me on St. Patrick's Day as to be honest I wasn't aware why it was celebrated. It lloks like a great festival to understand Ireland culture and traditions. Green being my favorite color would love to sport it. New York is where I would prefer to be present to enjoy the parade.
I'm glad you enjoyed it. It's a really fun festival and New York is a great place to watch the parade
I never knew there were so many states that had parades and just overall celebrations for St. Patrick's Day. I'm going to have to check some of these out!
There are sooo many, definitely go and see one!
What a great way to celebrate St. Patrick's Day! I would love to visit one of those parades!
There are many to choose from!
ok - I had completely no clue that St Patrick's Day is celebrated outside of Ireland and to such an extent too! Such an eye opening article to read - parades seem to be big in many US cities but I like the Chicago way of making their river green to celebrate. That is a statement!
It's definitely a unique way to honor the holiday!
The green rivers are always so fun...its great to see the celebrations and take part. Love celebrating other cultures ^_^
I completely agree!
The USA really goes all out for all holidays. St. Patrick's day is so eventful in Chicago. Thanks for sharing!
The country knows how to celebrate!
Thank you fro this list! I love celebrating St Patricks Day and always love hitting the parade in NYC 😉 May try something different this year!
Have a good one Melissa!
This is such a great list. We live within driving distance of Dublin, Ohio, So I might have to check out their St. Patrick's Day festivities this year!
Perfect! I hope you enjoy it Patricia
I know there are many Irish descendants in the US, but this post highlighted the huge scale on which the celebrations take place. With green beer and a green river, it seems they outdo Ireland in the St Patrick's Day traditions!
The US really goes big for St Patrick's Day 😀
We have not been big on celebrating St Patricks Day. But fun to know there are some great spots to really get in the spirit of the holiday. And to drink some green beer of course! The one that did have me intrigued was Chicago with the river turned green! Looks like there are some good choices right across the US for St Patricks Day.
It's such a great thing they do each year in the city! And the green beer is actually so good
Amazing! I love how the US celebrate St Patrick's Day so well. It is so colourful and fun! Thanks for the list.
Thank you, I'm glad you enjoyed it 😀
I find Saint Patrick's Day interesting and enjoyable because I've never participated in such celebrations. I love how pretty those girls look in their traditional Irish garb! The vibrant floats, marching bands, vintage cars, bagpipers, and other participants will make for a parade that I will undoubtedly pay to watch. I'm hoping that I'll be able to attend this unique event soon and know more about it.
There are over 40 in the US to celebrate! It's a great day and way to honor the Irish holiday and culture
Every city on the list has its own distinct flair for celebrating St. Patrick’s Day.
It is true
I see loads wearing green on St Patrick's in my area. Loads of places in the US seem to celebrate. It must be fun to see the parades.
They're great to watch and perfect for the children to see too
Wow amazing collection, green river in Chicago looks incredible.
St. Patrick looks so festive everywhere in America..
It's so cool they do it every year for St Patrick's Day!
I had no idea that the US celebrates St Patrick's Day so lively. I'd love to visit Chicago on this day, to see the river coloured in green. What a sight that must be. There seem to also be so many parades to choose from. I would like to go to a historical one, such as the one in Boston or in Philadelphia.
Chicago does it every year and it's such a sight! A historical one is a great choice 😀
We have always enjoyed celebrating St Patricks Day although not managed it for the past few years. It is always certain to be lots of fun
It is, and it's great that everyone is welcome 🙂
This is awesome! I will spend it in NYC, I can't be more excited about it! super cool!!!!
Great! I hope it's a great one 🙂
St. Patrick’s day is so fun! Visiting Chicago to see the river green is on the top of my bucket list! Great post, I learned about so many new spots!
Thank you Valery, I'm glad to hear it! 😀
I have to admit I never celebrated St Patricks Day. Neither in Ireland nor in the US. It looks like a fund celebration though - with the green river and the green beer. Quite spectacular!
It is a lot of fun, and many cities in the US celebrate it well 😀
Wow, I did not know that St. Patricks was so popular in US. I always assumed it was just Ireland that celebrated it. I would love to see New York at that time as well as Rhodes Island. The Sacramento one also, amazing with the mention of those live bands. And yes, those green drinks look yummy!!
It is very popular across the country, and many places really go all out!
That is fantastic. I am looking forward to St Paddy's Day and a couple of green cocktails. Thanks for sharing the best spots to celebrate Saint Patricks Day in the US of A!
You're welcome Kelly 🙂
Wow, this is amazing - how long did you have to do research - and most importantly: How hard did you have to party - to put this comprehensive post together? Also, I'm impressed by how big of a deal St Patrick's day is in the US - is it also this important in the motherland? Because I know that people in the US take their heritage sometimes more seriously than the countries they came from 😉 Howsoever, green drinks are fun, green is my last name, hence, what's not to like 😉
It took a while to research but I think it's a fun way to celebrate St. Patrick's Day! How cool your last name is Green 😀
As someone who went to undergrad in Albany, NY I totally agree with your post, the St. Patricks day festivities there are really loud and proud! I had no idea Chicago dyed the river green for St. Paddys, that is SO cool! As a NY native, happy to see we are number 1!
I'm glad you approve! Chicago dyes its river green every St Patrick's Day! 😀