Boston, Chicago, New York City, Savannah & San Diego Have That Irish Spirit
In fact, if you travel across the USA you can go to several St. Patrick’s Day parties and celebrations. Many cities have parades and they are on different days. Here’s a rundown of the top ones and the dates because they are on traditional days before, on or even after the actual St. Patrick’s Day.
(Note: for 2021 parades have been canceled by people are still partying; in fact Savannah’s hotels are at 90% capacity.)
• Chicago St. Patrick’s Day Parade
Saturday Before St. Patrick’s Day
One of the best parades for singles in the USA, the parade starts with the dying of the Chicago River at 9 a.m., The parade begins at noon. It starts at 44th Street and goes up Fifth Avenue to 79th Street. It finishes about 4:30 at the American Irish Historical Society at East 80th Street.
But by that time, you’ve long peeled off into one of the many Irish bars in Chicago.
And in Chicago, one parade isn’t enough; there’s a second parade in the South Side the next day.
• San Diego St. Patrick’s Day Parade
Saturday Before St. Patrick’s Day
Sunny Southern California has a St. Paddy’s Day parade in San Diego’s Balboa Park. It starts at 11 but that’s just a warmup to the giant beer garden behind the parade route with great bands and lively people consuming beer and soaking in the scene.
When this slows down by late afternoon, it’s about a 20-minute walk down a hill to the Gaslamp where there are several good Irish bars.
Link: San Diego St. Patrick’s Day Parade, Party & Irish Bars
• New York City St. Patrick’s Day Parade
Date: March 17
This event has been “marching on the streets of New York since 1762.” It goes down 5th Ave., from Midtown to the Met, and lasts from 11 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Naturally, there are many Irish bars in NYC to go in and out of during the parade.
Official Parade Link: www.nycstpatricksparade.org
• Savannah, GA St. Patrick’s Day Parade
Date: March 17
Those in the know – and that certainly includes PubClub.com – know that one of the best, wildest, greenest St. Patrick’s Day parades in the country is in this Southern city along the Atlantic Ocean in Georgia, five hours from Atlanta.
There’s a massive downtown parade starting at 10:15 going until early afternoon, followed by a huge – and we mean huge – open block party along the cobblestone walkway of River Street. All over the area for a couple days leading up to St. Paddy’s Day, the entire city is alive with the festive atmosphere. More than 300,000 people go to this event on an annual basis.
Savannah has no real Irish ties, by the way. But it does like to throw a good party.
Link: Savannah St. Patrick’s Day Parade Official Site
• South Boston Patrick’s Day Parade
Date: March 17
Join a couple hundred thousand people in this parade that runs through South Boston. It starts at 1 p.m., and has floats and bands.
Link: South Boston St. Patrick’s Day Parade Website
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