Enjoy Life: Best St. Patrick’s Day Celebrations

St. Patrick's Day is about more than just shamrocks and leprechauns. Whether it’s following the footsteps of Saint Patrick in Dublin or experiencing the magic of a green Chicago River, there are plenty of activities for everyone to enjoy on St. Patrick’s Day. Just don’t forget to wear your green!

Here are three of the best cities to visit in celebration of this Irish holiday.

New York City

NYC’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade is the oldest and largest in the world. Come early to claim your spot among the 2 million spectators on Fifth Avenue as the 69th Infantry Regiment leads the procession of nearly 150,000 firefighters, military, bands and more.

After the parade grab a pint at the oldest pub in the city, McSorley’s Old Ale House in the East Village. Established in 1854, this bar was one of the last “Men Only” pubs in the city before finally permitting women to enter 116 years later in 1970!

Chicago

You have to see it to believe it! Nearly 100 pounds of green dye turns the Chicago River a brilliant shade of emerald green before the start of Chicago’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Always held on a Saturday, either on or before St. Patrick’s Day, the parade has been around since 1843. Enjoy Irish-inspired floats and dancers, then attend the special Parade Mass, an Irish-themed service, or stop by Chicago’s oldest Irish pub, The River Shannon.

For an authentic Irish celebration, head to the Irish American Heritage Center for traditional and contemporary Irish music, dancing, food and children’s activities.

Dublin

No St. Patrick’s Day celebration list is complete without Dublin! Explore the medieval cathedrals and historic sites on the streets of Dublin with Irish author and historian Pat Liddy as he guides you around the footsteps of Saint Patrick. Head over to Parnell Square to join thousands of spectators as they watch the parade and enjoy Irish music and fun. Then, visit the Irish Craft Beer Village to learn all there is to know about the craft beer community in Ireland!

Enjoy a pint of Guinness as you experience some of the more than 1,000 pubs on the Dublin City Pub Crawl. The town will be glowing as many of the city’s most famous buildings are lit up green, an event known as Greening the City.

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