St Patrick's Day events: Five cities to celebrate in the US

St Patrick's Day is Sunday, March 17

If travelling to Ireland is out of the question this St Patrick’s Day, the good news is you’ll still be able to celebrate - as the US hosts a variety of events for the annual holiday this weekend.

This year, major cities across the country will be home to some of the biggest celebrations and parades. St Patrick's Day is on Sunday, but many will celebrate on Saturday.

But even in the smaller cities such as Washington DC, you’ll be able to celebrate the holiday with green beer and green clothing.

These are the five best places to celebrate St Patrick’s Day in the US.

New York City, New York

Home to one of the oldest St Patrick’s Day parades in the country, New York City is one of the most festive places to celebrate the annual event.

The first parade was held in 1762 and has remained a beloved tradition in the city ever since.

This year, 200,000 people are scheduled to march up 5th Avenue on Saturday - with more than two million people expected to watch from the sidelines.

Chicago, Illinois

As major landmarks are transformed green for St Patrick’s Day, Chicago takes the tradition one step further with the dyeing of the Chicago River.

On Saturday, March 16, the city will turn the water of the river a bright emerald green as part of a tradition dating back more than 50 years.

After the river has been dyed, the city hosts a three-hour parade.

Boston, Massachusetts

If you plan to celebrate St Patrick’s Day in Boston, expect to see major crowds at this year’s parade on Sunday, March 17, as Amazon is sponsoring the annual tradition.

The parade is expected to have 20,000 participants.

Or, if you want to go the more historical route, you can participate in a guided walk of the Irish Heritage Trail - which shows participants over 200 years of Irish history in the city.

New Orleans, Louisiana

While New Orleans is best known for its Mardi Gras celebrations, the city also hosts a large week-long celebration in honour of St Patrick’s Day.

Apart from three parades, the city’s most popular celebrations are in the form of block parties - which see the streets fill with people dressed in green and drinking green beer.

For a full list of St Patrick’s Day celebrations, click here.

Cleveland, Ohio

Cleveland is also recognised for hosting one of the oldest St Patrick’s Day parades in the country - with 2019 marking the city’s 177th parade on Sunday.

This year, the city expects more than 500,000 guests to join in on the celebrations.

The city also puts an emphasis on food - with various pubs offering the Americanised tradition of serving corned beef and cabbage.