St. Patrick’s Day was more than just another excuse to don your best green attire and grab a drink that matches your outfit this year. In cities around the world, celebrants took to the streets for epic St. Patrick’s Day parades full of music, drinking, and plenty of holiday cheer. And while St. Patrick’s Day 2018 has come and gone, there’s plenty of time to start preparing for next year’s parties. These were the most epic, outrageous, and enviable parades from around the world this year, and well worth seeing for yourself in 2019:
New York, NY: New York City has one of the world’s most famous St. Patrick’s Day celebrations, with more than 150,000 participants turning out to march along the parade route. Starting on 44th Street and 5th Avenue, this iconic parade made its way past the famed St. Patrick’s Cathedral before finishing on the Upper East Side, where the American Irish Historical Society has its New York Headquarters.
Chicago, IL: Chicago’s large Irish population makes it one of the United States’ premier destinations for St. Patrick’s Day. The city kicked off the morning by dyeing the Chicago River green before thousands of marchers head up Columbus Drive, parading between Grant Park and Millennium Park, with bagpipe music, green beer, and plenty of revelry along the way.
Boston, MA: The Boston St. Patrick’s Day parade began at the South Boston Allied War Veteran Council, making its way through historically-Irish South Boston and around Thomas Park, before ending on the corner of Boston and Southampton Streets. Along the way, you can enjoy traditional dancing, music, and plenty of celebrations of the beautiful Irish culture.
London, England: While England and Ireland have historically been at odds with one another in the past, that doesn’t stop London from throwing one hell of a St. Patrick’s Day parade. The party began at Trafalgar Square, with 125,000 marchers and watchers packing the area for Irish dancing, crafts, art, film, food, and more during this three-day celebration, including a traditional parade from Piccadilly to Trafalgar Square.
Dublin, Ireland: Of course, there’s no city that celebrates St. Patrick’s Day quite like Dublin. The capital city celebrated with an incredible parade, complete with live music, costumes, performers, floats, and more, all part of the city’s larger four-day celebration of this religious holiday.
Whether you’re celebrating your heritage or simply enjoying the day’s festivities, St. Patrick’s Day is a great time to get outside, enjoy a few pints with friends, and break out your best green gear. If you want to spend the holiday in style next year, make a trip to one of these cities around the globe on St. Patrick’s Day for one of the most exciting and unique celebrations you’ve ever seen. Slainte!