5 St. Patrick’s Day Parades You Won’t Want to Miss

New York parade

How are you spending St. Patrick’s Day? If you’re looking for a parade, you may just have the luck of the Irish in your corner. Each year some of the most stellar parades across the U.S. happen on St. Patrick’s Day! Which ones get the top honors as best parade picks?

Chicago, Illinois. Chicago’s St. Patrick’s Day parade is held on the Saturday of (or before) the holiday at noon. Starting at Balbo and Columbus, the parade moves north. The parade isn’t the only must-see part of the day. The city dyes the Chicago River green at 9 a.m.!

New York, New York. This parade dates back to 1762. Each year the parade is observed by the Archbishop of New York from the steps of Saint Patrick’s Cathedral. Held on St. Patrick’s Day itself (unless the day falls on a Sunday – then the parade is on the Saturday before), the event starts at 11 a.m. With between 150,000 and 250,000 marchers each year, New York City’s parade is a sight to see.

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Pittsburgh’s St. Patrick’s Day parade has been a holiday tradition since 1869. As one of the largest St. Patrick’s Day parades in the country, the Steel City’s celebration starts at 10 a.m. the Saturday before the actual holiday (or on the day itself, if it falls on a Saturday).

Boston, Massachusetts. With an annual draw of well over half a million viewers, the South Boston parade starts at 1:00 p.m. at the Broadway Station.

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Philadelphia’s first parade marched on in 1771. More than 200 groups and 20,000 participants march in the St. Patrick’s Day tradition each year. The parade is held on the Sunday before the holiday.