Chicago
Chicago goes all in for St. Patrick’s Day with a gesture that no other destination in the United States can match: dyeing the Chicago river green for the day. Downtown Chicago is packed with visitors for St. Patrick’s Day who visit the city to watch the dyeing of the river in the morning and then stay for the downtown parade at noon and celebrate into the evening.
History: St. Patrick’s Day parades began in Chicago in 1956, and a local plumber’s union began the tradition of dyeing the river green in 1961.
Parade: Chicago’s St. Patrick’s Day parade is one of the largest in the country and will celebrate its 64th anniversary in 2018. It lasts about three hours and features hundreds of floats, marching bands, bagpipers and step dancers.
Other Festivities: Various neighborhoods throughout Chicago hold their own smaller parades, offering less crowded experiences. And the Irish American Heritage Center throws a special festival from noon until midnight.
Denver
Denver plays host to one of the largest St. Patrick’s Day celebrations west of the Mississippi River, with a parade that attracts more than 250,000 viewers and supporting events around the city that put a unique Mile High spin on this Irish holiday.
History: The first St. Patrick’s Day parade in Denver took place in 1889. The modern incarnation of the parade was launched in 1962 by a handful of local revelers and has grown to become a major event.
Parade: Denver’s St. Patrick’s Day parade features more than 10,000 participants and integrates Western-themed elements such as horses and stagecoaches into the Irish traditions.
Other Festivities: Denver has dozens of Irish-themed establishments where visitors can sample Irish food or raise a pint in celebration of St. Patrick’s Day. One local favorite, Fado’s, puts on a festival especially for the holiday with Irish music on two stages.
www.denverstpatricksdayparade.com
San Diego
Though St. Patrick’s Day is often a chilly occasion in most of the United States, the perennially beautiful weather of Southern California makes San Diego one of the most pleasant places to celebrate in March. St. Patrick’s Day is San Diego’s largest single-day event, and the city rolls more than 80,000 square feet of bright green artificial turf over parts of its downtown to mark the occasion.
History: The San Diego St. Patrick’s Day Parade was started in 1981 by the owner of a local Irish restaurant who had organized similar parades in New England before relocating to California.
Parade: The St. Patrick’s Day Parade in San Diego has more than 120 entries, including traditional performers such as brass bands and Irish dancers along with whimsical acts such as roller skaters, clowns and antique cars.
Other Festivities: After the parade, an Irish festival is held in Balboa Park throughout the afternoon, with step dancers, Irish folk singers, a Celtic food village, a beer garden and more.
