St. Patrick's Day 2024 in Mexico City

St. Patrick’s Day is widely celebrated in Mexico City. Thousands of Mexicans take to the streets to celebrate San Patricio Fest México. Such a passionate celebration owes to serious connections between the Irish holiday and Mexico. One of the most popular gathering points on St. Patrick's Day in the city must be San Jacinto Plaza, which is home to a plaque commemorating the “martyrs” of St. Patrick’s Battalion who gave their lives to the Mexican interests. You can find more on this subject at the bottom of the read.

San Patricio Fest México (March 2–3, 9–10, 16–17, 2024)

The most outstanding celebration must be San Patricio Fest México, spanning three weekends and culminating on March 17. The festivities take place at Museo Nacional de las Intervenciones - Ex Convento Churubusco in Mexico City. The first weekend is more official and features events like awards and conferences, as well as some film screenings, Irish stories, and Galician music. But a true entertainment program unfolds on the second weekend. Brace yourself for a Celtic music concert with "Kelpey," Scottish Dance with "Dance Corps," a Uilleann pipe concert, and much more. The climax of festivities comes on the last weekend with multiple concerts on Saturday from 1 to 4 pm and a fun-jammed Sunday with a mass at 10 am, a commemoration parade at 11 am, and a music and dance festival between 1 and 6 pm.

Desfile del Día de San Patricio en Coyoacán (March 17, 2024)

St. Patrick's Day parade is the undisputable highlight of St. Patrick's Festival in Mexico City. The street procession steps off at 11 am and follows the route from San Juan Bautista Parish to the National Museum of Interventions. The parade is followed by a free concert of Celtic music and dance from 1 pm to 6 pm at the National Museum of Interventions.

Green colors throughout the city

Besides St. Patrick's Festival & Parade, the city also lits up its most iconic monuments, such as the Angel of Independence, or simply El Ángel, with green. Also, monuments in Paseo de la Reforma, the Álvaro Obregon Monument, Los Arcos, the Municipal Palace, the Monument to the Heroes, the Rotunda, and the Paseo Chapultepec are usually illuminated in green.

History behind St. Patrick's Day in Mexico

The reason why Mexico City celebrates St.Patrick's Day so vigorously is that of the “martyrs” of St. Patrick’s Battalion who gave their lives for Mexico. Also known as “San Patricios”, the group of native Irish soldiers defected from the US Army during the Mexican-American War of 1846–48 and fought over disputed boundaries and the American annexation of Texas.