There are many aspects that make up St. Patrick’s Day, one of which is festive parades. There are many popular parades that happen throughout the country that thousands pile in to catch a glimpse of.
St. Patrick’s Day is an occasion that many people, Irish or not, look forward to celebrating across the United States.
St. Patrick’s Day is made complete with festive parades filled with Irish culture.
Thousands, in some cases millions, line the streets at parades across the country for the occasion.
Check out these popular St. Patrick’s Day parades that you can attend this year.
Just make sure to secure your spot early at these highly attended events.1. New York City
New York City’s St. Patrick’s Day parade brings in 2 million visitors every year, according NYC’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade website.
There is also an impressive number of people — 150,000 — who march in the parade, which begins at East 44th Street and travels up Fifth Avenue and ends at East 79th Street.
This historic parade dates back to 1762. Since its start, volunteers have been the organizers of the event, according to the website.
If you plan on attending the largest and oldest St. Patrick’s Day parade in the country, come prepared for a long day. Typically, the parade runs about five to six hours from start to finish, with a start time of 11 a.m.2. Chicago
You can catch a huge St. Patrick’s Day parade in Chicago as well. The parade lasts around three hours and has been an annual event since 1843, according to ChooseChicago.com.
Each year since 1962, usually on the Saturday before St. Patrick’s Day, the Chicago River is dyed green, according to the site.
Many gather to watch the river receive its new color.
The dye only lasts for a few hours, so if you want to catch a photo or a glimpse, be sure to arrive on time. You can experience the river by boarding a cruise during the time it is dyed.
