St Patrick’s Day is among the most celebrated festivals worldwide. It is celebrated on 17 March in honour of Saint Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. The festival has gained popularity around the world, so much so that right now, it’s not just celebrated in Ireland.
If you’re a student interested in taking part in this feast, there’s a good chance your home city has a St Patrick’s Day celebration. Thanks to the Irish diaspora, St Patrick’s Day is nowadays celebrated all over the world. In this article we have listed some of the best cities around the world to have a great party on St Patrick’s Day. If you’ll be looking to study in any of these cities, make sure to find your student accommodation early.
Dublin, Ireland
Dublin is the home of St Patrick’s Day, and it’s no surprise that it’s one of the best places to go for St Patrick’s Day celebrations. The festival in Dublin is a five-day-long affair with lots of activities, including parades, traditional music performances, and cultural events. The festivities kick off with the Greening of the City, where many of Dublin’s buildings and landmarks light up in green.
The St Patrick’s Day parade is one of the festival’s highlights, attracting over half a million visitors. The parade is followed by a street festival that features live music, dance performances, and street theatre.
New York City, USA
New York City is another top destination for St Patrick’s Day celebrations. The city hosts the biggest St Patrick’s Day parade in the world, and it’s been an annual tradition since 1762. The parade attracts over two million spectators and features bagpipes, marching bands, and lots of green! The city has a vibrant Irish community, and you can expect to find some of the best traditional Irish music and dance performances during the festival. New York City has many Irish pubs where you can celebrate St Patrick’s Day with some Guinness and Irish stew.
Manchester, UK
Manchester is a top university city that offers some of the most exciting St Patrick’s Day celebrations. The city has a thriving Irish community, and it celebrates the festival with numerous exciting activities.
The festival features a parade that winds its way through the city centre and ends at Albert Square. The square hosts a St Patrick’s Day market, where you can buy traditional Irish food, drinks, and crafts. The festival also features traditional Irish music performances and dance shows. Manchester has some of the best Irish pubs where you can savour a pint of Guinness while listening to Irish bands.
Edinburgh, UK
Edinburgh is another university city that celebrates St Patrick’s Day in style. The city has a lively Irish community, and it celebrates the festival with lots of activities. The festival features a parade that starts from the city’s old town and ends at the Grassmarket. The Grassmarket hosts a St Patrick’s Day market, where you can buy traditional Irish food and drinks. The festival also features traditional Irish music performances and dance shows. Edinburgh also has some of the best Irish pubs in the country.
Glasgow, UK
This is another Scottish university city to celebrate St Patrick’s Day. Glasgow’s celebrations may not be as well-known as Dublin or New York City, but they are no less impressive. The St Patrick’s Day parade in Glasgow features marching bands, dancers, and colourful floats, all paying tribute to the Irish culture that is so important to the city.
After the parade, there are plenty of other things to do and see in Glasgow. The city’s Irish pubs are a great place to start, with many of them offering traditional Irish food and live music. The city is also home to plenty of traditional music sessions, where visitors can enjoy the sounds of traditional Irish music.
Waterford, Ireland
Waterford is another Irish city that knows how to put on a fantastic St Patrick’s Day celebration. The city’s parade is one of the oldest in Ireland, dating back to 1903. Waterford’s St Patrick’s Day parade features a mix of traditional and modern floats, music and dance performances, and colourful costumes. The city also has an energetic traditional Irish music scene, with plenty of pubs hosting live music sessions throughout the week. During the St Patrick’s Day festivities, these pubs come alive with the sounds of Irish music, providing an excellent atmosphere for revellers to dance, sing, and celebrate.
Waterford offers plenty of attractions for those looking to explore beyond the St Patrick’s Day festivities. One of the most popular is the Waterford Greenway, a scenic cycling route that stretches 46 kilometres from Waterford City to Dungarvan. Along the way, cyclists can enjoy stunning views of the Irish countryside, including historic sites like the Viking settlement at Woodstown and the 19th-century Durrow Viaduct.
Boston, USA
Boston, Massachusetts, is home to a large Irish-American population and a lively St Patrick’s Day celebration. The city’s parade is the second-largest in the US, attracting over one million spectators annually. The parade starts in South Boston and travels through the city, featuring a variety of floats, marching bands, and colourful costumes.
Boston also offers culture enthusiasts live Irish music and authentic cuisine in the many Irish pubs around the city. There is also a regular concert showcasing The Dropkick Murphys, a local Celtic punk rock band, and a 5K road race. For students over 21, you can hop through the city’s many pubs or stop by the Harpoon Brewery for their annual St Paddy’s day festival.
In addition to its St Patrick’s Day celebrations, Boston has a rich history and is home to several prestigious universities, including Harvard University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
Final thoughts
These are some of the best university cities to celebrate St Patrick’s Day. Whether you are looking to experience traditional Irish culture or simply want to join in the festivities, these cities offer something for everyone. From Dublin’s vibrant parade to Boston’s lively pub scene, there are plenty of ways to celebrate St Patrick’s Day in style. So, grab your green clothing and shamrocks, and join in the fun!
