20 Best American Cities For Your St. Patrick's Day Pub Crawl
Where Will You Celebrate St. Patrick's Day This Year?
March 17th celebrates St. Patrick, who drove paganism out of Ireland and converted it to Christianity, shaping the country's culture. With over 30 million Americans claiming Irish heritage, this day is significant to many, but you don't have to be Irish at all to celebrate. Whether it's with a pub crawl, a parade, or a fun run, there are many different ways to toast the Emerald Isle and the brave people who immigrated from there to build the great cities we live in across America. Here are the 20 best places in the USA to celebrate St. Paddy's Day.
1. Chicago, IL
No one can compete with the city that dyes its river green in honor of St. Patrick's Day. Chicago also holds a massive parade and parties that take place well into the night.
2. Boston, MA
Massachusetts has one of the highest Irish-American populations in the states, making Boston one of the best cities to party in on St. Paddy's. Celebrate Ireland's patron saint by attending the parade, going to one (or many) of the city's countless Irish pubs, and seeing the legendary Boston-born band Dropkick Murphys perform their annual show.
3. Savannah, GA
Savannah may be more synonymous with Southern hospitality than Irish charm, but the city holds one of the biggest St. Paddy's Day parades in the country, just behind NYC and Chicago. The parade is the city's largest event. People even routinely camp out to get the best viewing spot.
4. Kansas City, MO
Kansas City has Irish roots dating back to the 1800s when immigrants from the Emerald Isle came over to essentially build the city. Head there for the annual parade, followed by a visit to one (or all) the city's countless Irish taverns.
5. Pittsburgh, PA
With about one out of every five Yinzers claiming Irish heritage, St. Patrick's Day in Pittsburgh is a big deal. The city holds a large parade every year, complete with step dancers, bag pipes, marching bands, and celebrity appearances from the city's biggest names, including Punxsutawney Phil. Pub crawls start at around 4 pm.
6. Reno, NV
Reno celebrates St.Patrick's Day with a three-day festival, kicking off with a carnival on Friday night, followed by a parade on Saturday, and a car show on Sunday. It's one of the state's largest St. Paddy's Day celebrations, and you can certainly find some of the most fun pub crawls the country has to offer.
7. New York City, NY
New York has no shortage of Irish-Americans whose ancestors helped build some of the city's greatest landmarks, including the Empire State Building and the Brooklyn Bridge. The St. Patrick's Day parade in NYC is the largest and oldest in the US, dating back to 1762. It happens along Fifth Avenue in Manhattan every year on March 17 and is followed by pub crawls and afterparties going late into the night.
8. Santa Rosa, CA
In typical California fashion, Santa Rosa kicks off their St. Patrick's festivities with a five-kilometer run. Don't worry, it's not all about fitness. In Santa Rosa, they chase that run down with several cold pints, live music, and comedy at the annual pub crawl.
9. Henderson, NV
Henderson is the city with the second largest number of residents with Irish heritage in Nevada, after Las Vegas. St. Paddy's Day events happen all weekend long, from Friday to Sunday, starting with a carnival, then a Saturday parade, and a Sunday car show.
10. Buffalo, NY
Buffalo has not one but two St. Patrick's Day parades. The first one happens on Saturday in the Old First Ward neighborhood, where you can stop in for a cheeky drink at one of the many historic Irish pubs along the way. The second one happens the following day in Buffalo's downtown core.
11. St. Paul, MN
Irish pride runs deep in St. Paul, and at no time is that more apparent than on St. Patrick's Day. The city has been holding a parade every year on March 17th since 1967.
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12. Omaha, NE
Residents of Omaha take to the streets every year to celebrate their Irish heritage, starting with a parade. Taverns across the city serve special Irish fair and there's of course a pub crawl and afterparty.
13. Des Moines, IA
People in Des Moines celebrate their Irishness a bit differently, with a marathon, half-marathon, and five-kilometer run. All that effort must make the post-race Guinness(es) at the pub crawl that much more satisfying. There's also a parade with bag pipes, dancers, and floats the following day.
14. Dublin, OH
It may not be the Dublin, but it's the next best thing! Dublin, Ohio, unsurprisingly has a loud and proud population of Irish-Americans who take to the streets every year in the name of St. Pat in the form of a parade, a pub crawl, and even a Celtic cocktail trail for the non-beer lovers.
15. Minneapolis, MN
Minneapolis has several dedicated Irish associations that put together a huge downtown parade every year with Celtic music, dancing, and vendors. There's also a five-kilometer fun run and drink specials at pubs throughout the city.
16. San Francisco, CA
In the 19th century, San Francisco saw a huge influx of Irish immigrants who made up one-third of the city's population, shaping its culture in ways that persist to this day. As such, San Fran has a pretty happening St. Paddy's day with a parade, pub crawls, and Irish music.
17. Las Vegas, NV
With the largest Irish-heritage population out of any city in Nevada, you'd better believe that Sin City puts on a good party for St. Patrick's. A three-day festival including a parade, countless pub crawls through the many iconic establishments, and live shows and entertainment can be found throughout Vegas.
18. Fresno, CA
Fresno, California, kicks off its St. Paddy's Day with a fun run. After running, kick up your legs with a green beer and some classic Irish grub, and listen to some live local music.
19. Columbia, SC
The St. Patrick's Day festival in Columbia, South Carolina, prides itself on being the state's largest one-day festival. In addition to the parade, there's a fun run, live music, and pub crawls.
20. Overland Park, KS
Though it's unclear how many Irish-Americans live in Overland Park, 11 percent of Kansas has Irish blood, and nearby Kansas City is considered the center of the Irish diaspora. That's why Overland Park has one of the best St. Patrick's Day parades in the state.
