Biggest St. Patrick’s Day Parades, Best celebrations & Events

Every year, Dublin draws thousands of visitors with its authentic St. Patrick’s Day celebrations. There is nothing like walking on Georgian streets of the Irish capital alongside street performers, folk Irish bands, and traditional storytellers. Enjoy this crazy holiday weekend in Dublin with the parade, Paddy’s Day Leprechaun Hunt, Irish Record Fairs, Irish Myths & Legends, and the 5K St. Paddy's Day Run. The biggest St. Patrick's Day Parade in Europe, however, takes place not in Dublin but in London, where 100,000 people take to the streets to celebrate the Irish holiday.

The Americas host a plentitude of St. Patrick’s Day events. Buenos Aires boasts one of the largest Irish celebrations in the world—a mixture of Argentinian and Celtic festivities with costumed elves, fairies, bagpipers, and Irish dancers. Plenty of Irish beer and traditional Irish dishes made in the Argentine style! Further north, Mexico City also has a surprisingly large celebration.The city's most iconic monument, Angel of Independence, is illuminated green. In the United States and Canada, almost every large city celebrates St. Patrick’s Day. After all, the Irish make up about 10% of the U.S. population and 15% of the Canada population. The world’s largest Saint Patrick's Day parade takes place in New York City. Another excellent festive destination is Boston, where the Saint Patrick's Day parade has been held since 1901. Chicago takes the idea of all things green even further by dyeing the Chicago River green. In Washington, D.C., the fountain on the south lawn of the White House is filled with emerald green water in honor of the Irish holiday. Fun-loving New Orleans holds at least three parades across the city and several block parties in its Irish Channel neighborhood.

Sydney hosts the second largest St. Patrick’s Day parade in the world, after New York City. The famous Sydney Opera House and Entertainment Quarter turn green in honor of Australia’s Irish immigrants. In Singapore, Irish diaspora may be small, but they are proud of their heritage. The cosmopolitan city holds its annual St. Patrick’s Day Street Festival in Boat Quay. Tropical heat is not an obstacle for indulging in Guinness and Jameson!