St. Patrick’s Day Festivals

The annual celebrations of Ireland’s patron saint are so numerous, varied, and now worldwide you really can’t  (or shouldn’t) miss joining in the festivities!

So Mick’s brings you our “Top 12” St. Patrick’s Day events for 2014…..

First of course is almost anywhere in Ireland.  Dublin has the largest and most spectacular week-long events, festivals, music, and parades anywhere. Then – just about every city, town and village has something special.  We especially like: Galway, Killarney, Cork, Athlone, Donegal, and Wexford…..

In the USA…..

1. Boston Parade; mid March; Boston, Massachusetts

Considered one of America’s most Irish cities, Boston boasts 24 percent population of Irish descent and the annual St Patrick’s Day Parade that has been going strong for literally hundreds of years is one of the largest such events in the USA.. In fact, Boston boasts that this was the place of the very first St. Patrick’s Day Events in the  A parade overflowing with floats, bagpipers, and marching bands, and an abundance of Irish pubs in Boston adds to the attraction of this event.

http://www.southbostonparade.org

2. New York Parade; mid March; New York City, New York

One of the oldest and largest such parade in the world, it is the largest and oldest in the US.  A popular event in New York for literally hundreds of years. The New York St Patrick’s Day Parade was first introduced by Irish soldiers in the British army in 1762 and now showcases more than 300,000 marchers and over 3-million spectators every year.   http://nycstpatricksparade.org

3. Chicago  Parade; mid March; Chicago, Illinois

Chicago hosts one of the largest St Patrick’s celebrations in the country , with many attracted to see the Chicago River turned green with an environmentally-friendly dye for the occasion. The actual parade, the first performance of which was more than a 170 years ago in 1843, is a massive collection of Irish-inspired floats and dancers.

http://www.chicagostpatsparade.com

4. Milwaukee St. Patricks Day Parade; early March; Milwaukee, Wisconsin

A popular event for more than 45 years, and recognized as one of the best such events in the USA. The Parade winds through downtown Milwaukee with elaborate floats, marching bands, bagpipers, and even clowns.

http://www.saintpatricksparade.org

5.  Cleveland  Parade; mid March; Cleveland, Ohio

An historic event that began 1867, the Cleveland St Patrick’s Day Parade now attracts more than 500,000 people each year to enjoy the efforts of over 13,000 registered participants marching in the parade. One of the warm highlights of this event is the choice of the Grand Marshall. This honorary title is usually given to a man “in his senior years, who has contributed significantly to the advancement of the Irish Activities in Cleveland.”

http://www.stpatricksdaycleveland.com

6. Kansas City Parade ; mid March; Kansas City, Missouri

One of the largest St Patrick’s Day parades in the USA celebrating all things Irish, the Kansas City St Patrick’s Day Parade begins after a a special Gaelic Mass and is led by a lone bagpiper and then a mass of floats, bands and other performers filling the streets of Kansas City with music, leprechauns, lucky charms and more.

http://kcirishparade.com

7. Dallas  Parade; mid March; Dallas, Texas

This is the largest St. Patrick’s parade in the Southwest with more than a hundred floats and more than 100,000 revelers, parading along Greenville Avenue is said to rival those  in Boston, Chicago and even New York.

http://www.greenvilleave.org/st-patricks-day

8. Denver parade; mid March; Denver, Colorado

One of the largest parades west of the Mississippi River, and Denver’s biggest annual parade.  It follows a circular route through the heart of Denver and features 10,000 marchers, floats, marching bands, dancers and Irish-themed fun with a Western flair including horses and stagecoaches.

http://www.denver.org/what-to-do/museum-art/st-patricks-parade

9. Seattle  Celebration; mid March; Seattle, Washington

Labelled by CNN as one of the “Five places to get your green on”, the Seattle St. Patrick’s Day Celebration is the largest and oldest St Patrick’s Day celebration in the Northwest USA. The parade, the high-point of Seattle’s Irish Week festivities – is marked out by Irish revelers with a mile-long green strip. Just as popular as the parade is the Irish Festival showcasing Irish films, Celtic handicrafts, non-stop Irish music, Irish language workshops and performances by champion local step-dancers.

http://www.irishclub.org/parade.htm

10. San Diego Festival; mid March;  Balboa Park – San Diego, California

One of the top 20 Saint Patrick’s Day events in the USA, this St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Irish Festival  is one of the largest single-day events in San Diego. More than 120 parade entries feature everything from marching bands, floats, clowns, equestrian entries, bagpipe contingents, dancing groups, drill teams, roller skaters, antique cars, the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick, representatives from Ireland, and the currently reigning Miss Colleen and Smiling Irishman.

http://www.stpatsparade.org

Also Not to Be Missed…..

• Parade & Festival; San Francisco, California

One of San Francisco’s most popular festivals (of many in this flamboyant city) for more than 160 years, and the largest such event west of the Mississippi, San Francisco’s St Patrick’s Day Parade & Festival attracts thousands of participants who join in to honor Irish culture including everything from Irish singing to traditional poetry along with more than a hundred colorful floats, Irish dance troupes and marching bands.

visit:http://saintpatricksdaysf.com

And a Mick’s Favourite…..

Kells Pub, Portland, Oregon

A week-long celebration at one of America’s largest, best, and most authentic Irish pubs!  The festival includes live Irish music, well-known bands and performers, Irish dancers and steppers…. and Ireland vs. USA boxing! Plus Portland’s St. Patrick’s Day parade.

www.kellsirish.com