Top 3 St. Patrick's Day Parades

New York City St. Patrick's Day Parade
Fifth Avenue New York City

According to New York Convention & Visitors Bureau, the New York City St. Patrick's Day Parade is the largest and most famous St. Patrick's Day parade in the U.S. Since it began in 1762, it's also the second oldest. Despite the fact that the holiday falls on a Monday, this year's parade still kicks off at 11am on Monday, March 17th. Beginning in front of St. Patrick's Cathedral at 44th Street, the celebration makes its way up 5th Avenue to 86th Street.

Marchers include politicians, high school bands and bagpipers as well as firefighters, policemen and military groups. This year's Grand Marshal is ESPN TV personality, Tommy Smyth.

The best viewing spots are towards the end of the parade route. The steps of the Metropolitan Museum of Art on the west side of 5th Avenue at 82nd street is a great place for an elevated view. For a closer look, try the east corner of 5th Avenue and 86th Street where the parade makes its final bend. Pedestrian crossing is permitted on 49th Street to 55th Street, 57th Street, 58th Street and eastbound on 59th Street and westbound on 60th Street.

San Francisco's Annual St. Patrick's Day Parade
The San Francisco St. Patrick's Day parade is the oldest and largest St. Patrick's Day parade west of the Mississippi.

The festivities kick off at 2nd and Market and end at the Civic Center Plaza. Civic Center Plaza will also be hosting a day-long family festival of games, music, face painting and a world-class beer garden.

More than 5,000 entertainers will be in attendance, including San Francisco's Irish Pipers and the San Mateo Bearcat Marching Band. A number of Irish Dance Schools will also be showing off their dance skills and spreading Irish cheer. Be sure to keep an eye out of the Irish Wolfhound who will be marching with the Irish Wolfhound Rescue Trust.

Chicago's St. Patrick's Day Parade

Chicago, Illinois

Most noted for it's Irish green river, Chicago truly captures St. Patrick's Day cheer. Since 1961, the Chicago Journeyman Plumbers turn the Chicago River green with a top-secret and environmentally safe formula. What began as an accident is now considered a modern day miracle. Years ago, a group of Chicago plumbers realized that the dye used to detect leaks into the river was the perfect shade of "Irish green." The dye itself, however, is actually orange.

The river's transformation from orange to green appears to be something out of a magic act. Even more magical is the fact that this feat has been unsuccessfully attempted by many other cities using the same dye. Is it magic or just the luck of Chicago's Irish? You can watch the dyeing of the river on Saturday, March 15th at 10:45am. The best view is from the upper level bridges at Michigan Avenue or Columbus Drive.

The dyeing of the river is followed by the St. Patrick's Day Parade which begins at noon on Columbus Drive and Balboa and then continues north to Monroe.