St. Patrick's Day Parades

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St. Patrick’s Day Parades have been traditional for many cities, towns, and villages for over 250 years. The first St. Patrick’s Day Parade was not held in Ireland, but America, by Irish honoring their roots. St. Patrick’s Day Parades are now held all over the world.

St. Patrick’s Day Parade, New York City – The St. Patrick’s Day Parade is a New York City tradition which began on March 17, 1762. Every year the parade is a marchers’ parade and does not allow floats, vehicles, and other commercial aspects. The parade is held every March 17th, except when March 17th falls on a Sunday; it is then celebrated the day before.

St. Patrick’s Day Parade, Boston – Boston’s annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade is held in the city’s most Irish neighborhood: South Boston. Since 1901, this parade has been a prominent part of South Boston’s history with music and colorful floats.

St. Patrick’s Day Parade, Chicago – The Downtown Chicago Parade is always held the Saturday of or before St. Patrick’s Day. The Chicago River is dyed green the day of the parade.

St. Patrick’s Day Parade, Savannah, Georgia – Savannah’s first St. Patrick’s Day Parade was in 1813, and is now the second-largest parade in the world. The three-hour parade consists of over 350 units, including the world-famous Budweiser Clydesdales. The city also prints an Official Parade Magazine.

St. Patrick’s Day Parade, Dublin, Ohio – The Dublin Parade covers approximately one mile, with 100 units in the parade, and 20,000 spectators attending from all over Ohio. The theme each year is “The Greenest, Grandest Parade Ever,” and contains floats, helium balloons, and marching bands.

St. Patrick’s Day Parade, Kansas City – The first Kansas City St. Patrick’s Day Parade was held in 1873. The tradition ended in 1891, but was revived March 15, 1973 when secretaries, businessmen, and shoppers paraded a block and a half during “the world’s shortest and worst parade.” The Kansas City Parade eventually became one of the largest in the America by the mid-1980s.

St. Patrick’s Day Parade, New Orleans – The St. Patrick’s Day Parade in New Orleans is celebrated by men and women dressed in green, handing out flowers, beads, and kisses to parade-goers. Historically, the parade’s most famous throws are cabbages, carrots, onions, and potatoes.

St. Patrick’s Day Parade, Philadelphia - The Irish in Philadelphia first held a St. Patrick’s Day Parade in 1771. This parade is one of the oldest parades in the country, topped only by the New York City Parade. Each year the parade is held the Sunday of or before March 17th. Thousands of spectators enjoy marching bands, dance groups, youth groups, and Irish associations.

St. Patrick’s Day Parade, San Francisco – The annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade in San Francisco is a well-established, historic event that originated in 1852. The parade has more than 5,000 participants of all ethnicities from all over the country.

St. Patrick’s Day Parades, Ireland – The first St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Ireland was held in Dublin in 1931. Many other villages in Ireland also hold their own parades now. Dripsey, Cork is famous for the shortest St. Patrick’s Day Parade in the world, which lasted 100 yards and traveled between the village’s two pubs; the town no longer holds the parade.

From rivers of green to flying potatoes, each city has found a unique way to celebrate the famous patron saint of Ireland Saint Patrick. Parades in many different forms have become anticipated events for city residents of all ages throughout the world.

photo credit: NYCMarines