Travel Article: North America's Top 10 Saint Patrick's Day Parades

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�	Bagpipers march in the NYC Saint Patrick's Day Parade¹

Saint Patrick's Day is an Irish tradition long celebrated far beyond Ireland's borders. Green-clad, Guinness-drinking, Irish-jigging people across the globe get together on this festive day of March to share tales of leprechauns and shenanigans, look for lucky shamrocks and gawk at grand parades, all for the love of everything Irish. So, who is this Saint Patrick, anyway? And what makes the 17th of March so special?

Many have heard tall tales of Saint Patrick ridding Ireland of snakes but whether he really did or not, Saint Patrick is the patron saint of that country, to be sure. As a Christian missionary in Ireland, it was Saint Patrick who created the symbol of the Celtic cross in hope that the mostly pagan Irish would be more inclined to identify with the Christian emblem. March 17, circa 460 A.D., is believed to be the date of Saint Patrick's death.

For the Irish and those that love a good party, the great saint continues to be a brilliant excuse to celebrate. He is most often commemorated with a festive parade and all things green on or near March 17 in countries with significant Irish populations around the world. Following are the biggest, greenest and most Irish of all Saint Patrick's Day Parades in the United States and Canada.

NEW YORK CITY

The world's very first Saint Patrick's Day parade actually took place in New York City, when Irish soldiers marched through the streets in 1762 to reconnect with their homeland. From these nostalgic roots, the New York City Saint Patrick�s Day Parade grew to become the world�s oldest and largest. This non-commercial celebration of Irish heritage and faith sees 150,000 soldiers, marching band members, bag pipers and members of the Irish community parade along Fifth Avenue on Saint Patty�s Day as millions of supportive onlookers paint themselves green and line the streets or watch the live television broadcast.

Best Irish Pub: party like the Irish at Molly�s Pub and Restaurant, famous for thick Guinness pints and Shepherd�s Pie.

CHICAGO

Held on the Saturday before March 17, Chicago�s Saint Patrick�s Day Parade along Columbus Drive is preceded by the Chicago Journeymen Plumbers dying the Chicago River Irish green. Claiming assistance from a little leprechaun magic, the Journeymen Plumbers add a safe vegetable dye to the river, which turns the murky water a brilliant shade of shamrock green. An impressive sight from any of the bridges that cross the river, the dying of the Chicago River along with the lively downtown parade makes Saint Patty�s Day a big deal in Chicago.

Best Irish Pub: kick out a jig to live Irish music at the Abbey Pub and Restaurant on the north side of the city.


The Chicago River flows Irish green on Saint Patrick's Day²	�

SAVANNAH

Approximately 400,000 people gather in the city of Savannah, Georgia to celebrate Saint Patrick�s contribution to the Christian faith. During the days leading up to March 17, Savannah warms up with a medley of family-friendly events. The Saint Patrick�s Celebration on the River is held on historic River Street over the 16th and 17th and features live Celtic music, games, competitions, food and plenty of Irish beverages. On-the-day festivities begin with an early morning mass at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, followed by the mid-morning parade, which travels through the historic park district and inspires residents to dye the city's fountains green every year.

Best Irish Pub: join in Savannah�s Saint Patty�s Day festivities with whiskey connoisseurs at Murphy�s Law Irish Pub.

BOSTON

Irish-Americans make up Massachusetts' largest ethnic community and Boston goes all out to celebrate this with one of the country's biggest Saint Patrick's Day parades. Beginning at 1pm on the Sunday before March 17, the South Boston Saint Patrick's Day Parade travels along Broadway to finish at Andrew Square, the route lined by more than half a million spectators. The city holds a variety of Irish-inspired events in the days leading up to the parade, including Irish comedy, theatre and concerts, and visitors can stroll Boston's 20-site Irish Heritage Trail.

Best Irish Pub: grab a real Irish breakfast before the parade at Mr. Dooley's Boston Tavern.

SAN FRANCISCO

Touting the largest Saint Patty's Day parade west of the Rockies, San Francisco goes super green for its annual Saturday Irish celebration. The jovial parade of approximately 5,000 participants begins at 11.30am from the corner of Second and Market Streets, and the fun continues with the all-day festival held at the Civic Center Plaza and on Grove Street. Here, everyone can be Irish for the day as they chow down on corned beef and cabbage, and enjoy traditional and contemporary performances alongside arts and crafts stalls, cultural displays and kids' activities.

Best Irish Pub: be transported to Dublin for some rockin' live Celtic shows at the Plough and the Stars.

QUAD CITIES

The Quad Cities know no boundaries when they celebrate Saint Patrick with the USA's only interstate parade. Held on a Saturday, the grand Saint Patrick's Day Parade is cheered along from Rock Island, Illinois, across the Mississippi River to Davenport, Iowa by tens of thousands of onlookers. There are plenty of great spots along the way from which to catch sight of this one-of-a-kind parade.

Best Irish Pub: over indulge on corned beef and cabbage, green beer and Guinness at Kelly's Irish Pub and Eatery in Davenport.

HOLYOKE

One of the biggest Saint Patrick's Day parades in North America happens in Holyoke, Massachusetts. The Irish were the first and largest immigrant group to the area in the mid-1800s and today Irish-Americans make up approximately 25 per cent of the state's population. Holyoke welcomes around 300,000 spectators to its grand parade of some 20,000 participants�equivalent to half the city's population! Held on the Sunday following March 17, the parade is preceded by the annual Saint Patrick's Day 10K Road Race on Saturday.

Best Irish Pub: relax and enjoy a few bevvies on the deck at Seamus O'Reilly's Pub & Grill.

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�	Everyone's Irish on Saint Patrick's Day³

MONTREAL

Saint Patrick's Day is a long-standing tradition in Canada. Celebrated in Montreal, Quebec since the late 18th century, Saint Patrick was first honoured by a parade here in 1824. Montreal's persistent parade has been held yearly since then, despite war, the Depression and snow storms. Boasting more than 40 marching bands, floats and thousands of green-clad participants, the parade draws a crowd of approximately 600,000 as it weaves through downtown Montreal.

Best Irish Pub: receive a hundred thousand welcomes at McKibbin's Irish Pub.

TORONTO

Toronto, Ontario's Saint Patrick's Day Parade is one of the world's biggest (and most raucous), even giving ones in Ireland a run for their money. Held at noon on the Sunday before the actual date, this merry, emerald green procession flows along Bloor Street, down Yonge and then Queen Street to Nathan Philips Square. The crowd of near 300,000, made up of the city's diverse cultures, all become Irish for the day as they revel in the high-spirited festivities�a Toronto tradition since 1987.

Best Irish Pub: unleash one's inner-Irish at Dora Keogh Traditional Irish Pub, downtown.

VANCOUVER

Started in 2004, Vancouver, British Columbia's Saint Patty's Day Parade is relatively new but as part of the five-day CelticFest�Western Canada's greatest annual Celtic festival�it's definitely something to write home about. Watched by more than 250,000 people, the parade consists of over 2,000 performers, civic bands, Celtic warriors, horses and Irish wolfhounds proudly marching to an Irish beat. After the parade, everyone gets excited about the Celtic Village complete with a street market, wandering musicians and medieval knights!

Best Irish Pub: go green on the rooftop patio at Ceili's, Vancouver's largest Irish pub.

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PHOTOS COURTESY OF:

Bagpipers march in the New York City Saint Patrick's Day Parade; New York City, NY, USA

The Chicago River flows Irish green under the Michigan Avenue Bridge on Saint Patrick's Day; Chicago, IL, USA

A dog goes green for Saint Patrick's Day; USA

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North America's Top 10 Saint Patrick's Day Parades