Travel authority, Douglas Knight New Canaan, enjoys a good Saint Pat’s party and believes the trend of traveling in order to experience exciting Irish festivities will continue to grow and become more popular.
To help first-time Saint Patrick’s Day revelers as well as experienced celebrants, Douglas Knight New Canaan, narrowed down a world of options to offer you a look at the top places in the world to celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day in grand style.
Saint Patrick’s Day in Ireland
It only makes sense that the top travel destination to enjoy on Saint Patrick’s Day is none other than the Emerald Isle herself, Ireland. According to legend, Ireland’s Patron Saint served as a bishop in Ireland around the fifth century A.D. The date affixed to his death, March 17, initially was a religious holiday and day of obligation in the Catholic church. The celebration remained a solemn event in Ireland until the 1990’s. At that time the Irish government sponsored Saint Patrick’s Day festivities to encourage tourism.
Dublin, Ireland is home to the nation’s largest Saint Pat’s Day celebrations. More than 100,000 people flock to the island each March to enjoy a month of revelry. The most extensive part of the celebration takes place over a three-day period and include an immense parade which features traditional Irish music, food, and dancing. An absolute must-see is the Gaelic Games. This traditional sports tournament takes place on the final day of the festival. If it is within your budget, a Saint Patrick’s Day holiday in Dublin, Ireland will be wonderfully unforgettable.
Saint Patrick’s Day in Montserrat
The Caribbean island of Montserrat may sound like an unusual recommendation for a Saint Patrick’s Day celebration, but this tiny island delights locals and visitors with a spectacular celebration each March. The connection between Montserrat and Saint Pat’s Day may not be immediately apparent. However, the island’s population was once predominantly Irish. In fact, the tiny nation is the only country in the world which recognizes Saint Patrick’s Day as an official national holiday.
If you are lucky enough to spend Saint Patrick’s Day on the ‘Emerald Isle of the Caribbean’ (as Montserrat is known), you can expect a full-on carnival atmosphere as the parades and celebrations blend traditional Irish customs with the vibrant local African culture. Be sure to enjoy local foods with an Irish twist as well as the parades complete with plenty of dancing.
Saint Patrick’s Day in Montreal, Canada
The city of Montreal is home to exciting Saint Patrick’s Day festivities that date back nearly two centuries. The city’s Irish population began the parade and party in 1824. Since its beginning, Montreal’s celebration evolved into Canada’s largest Saint Patty’s Day party; thousands of people visit Montreal every March to enjoy the festivities.
It is a long-standing tradition that celebrants should enjoy a tasty breakfast consisting of pancakes and Irish coffee before heading to Saint Catherine’s Street for the parade. After enjoying the parade, most people will cap off the day having a few beers at one of the area’s local Irish pubs.
Saint Patrick’s Day in the United States
It is easy to find people wearing o’ the green in nearly every American city, small town, and village on March 17th. There are a few American cities that are especially known for the elaborate ways the celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day.
• BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS- Over twenty percent of Bostonians have Irish roots, and they are proud to share their heritage. Thousands of people gather to take part in Boston’s iconic Saint Patrick’s Day parade. The city rolls out the green carpet to welcome over one-million spectators each year and entertain them with traditional Irish food, dancing, and drinking. You can also enjoy the annual Irish Film Festival, a six-day Irish concert series, and numerous Irish Pub Crawls.
• NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK– While the Big Apple has a smaller percentage of citizens with Irish heritage than Boston, it boasts the nation’s largest Saint Patrick’s Day parade. Viewing the entire parade is an endeavor which takes more than three hours. There is Irish culture to enjoy in New York City as well as pub crawls, music, and of course food.
• CHICAGO, ILLINOIS- The Windy City has the distinction of being the largest American city to dye the waters of its river green to help get folks in the mood to have a party. The tradition began in 1961, and the green dye is environmentally safe. It is designed to detect sewer leaks. After thousands of onlookers watch the Chicago River turn green, they can enjoy the city’s elaborate Saint Patrick’s Day parade.
Take advantage of one of these fantastic celebrations this Saint Patrick’s Day and be sure to look for more insights from Douglas Knight New Canaan.