Niche compiled a list of the Top 10 Cities to Celebrate St. Patricks’ Day based on an Access to Bars grade, St. Patrick’s Day Facebook Hype, % Irish, and the year the St. Patrick’s Day Parade was established. View the full ranking criteria below.
10. Chicago, Illinois
% Irish: 6.9%
Access to Bars Grade: A+
Year Parade Established: 1843
St. Patrick’s Day Facebook Hype: 16%*
Photo courtesy of Marit & Toomas Hinnosaar
Chicago is famous for the St. Patrick’s Day tradition of dyeing the Chicago River green. Thousands of people line the waterway to witness the event after the downtown parade.
Chicago is famous for the St. Patrick’s Day tradition of dyeing the Chicago River green. Thousands of people line the waterway to witness the event after the downtown parade.
9. St. Louis, MO
% Irish: 9.1%
Access to Bars Grade: A
Year Parade Established: 1968
St. Patrick’s Day Facebook Hype: 58%*
Photo courtesy of Brad Tutterow
The Ancient Order of Hibernians St. Patrick’s Day Parade is billed as one of the best in the country and kicks off a day of celebration in Dog Town, the city’s Irish neighborhood.
The Ancient Order of Hibernians St. Patrick’s Day Parade is billed as one of the best in the country and kicks off a day of celebration in Dog Town, the city’s Irish neighborhood.
8. Cleveland, OH
% Irish: 8.0%
Access to Bars Grade: A+
Year Parade Established: 1867
St. Patrick’s Day Facebook Hype: 75%*
Photo courtesy of Erik Drost
Cleveland’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade, the oldest and largest in Ohio, always occurs on March 17, no matter the day of the week. A staggering 500,000 people made it out to celebrate the occasion in 2012 and it doesn’t appear the momentum is slowing.
Cleveland’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade, the oldest and largest in Ohio, always occurs on March 17, no matter the day of the week. A staggering 500,000 people made it out to celebrate the occasion in 2012 and it doesn’t appear the momentum is slowing.
7. Kansas City, MO
% Irish: 10.2%
Access to Bars Grade: A-
Year Parade Established: 1873
St. Patrick’s Day Facebook Hype: 37%*
Photo courtesy of Patrick Hoesly
St. Patrick’s Day is the biggest event of the year in KC, but don’t miss “Snake Saturday” or the BBQ Championship, both held in North KC the Saturday before the 17th.
St. Patrick’s Day is the biggest event of the year in KC, but don’t miss “Snake Saturday” or the BBQ Championship, both held in North KC the Saturday before the 17th.
6. Savannah, GA
% Irish: 7.4%
Access to Bars Grade: B+
Year Parade Established: 1824
St. Patrick’s Day Facebook Hype: 567%*
Photo courtesy of rjones0856
Every year hundreds of thousands of people descend on Savannah for one of the largest St. Patrick’s Day celebrations in the world. Add in 70 degree weather and you have recipe for St. Paddy’s Day success.
Every year hundreds of thousands of people descend on Savannah for one of the largest St. Patrick’s Day celebrations in the world. Add in 70 degree weather and you have recipe for St. Paddy’s Day success.
5. Philadelphia, PA
% Irish: 11.3%
Access to Bars Grade: A+
Year Parade Established: 1771
St. Patrick’s Day Facebook Hype: 27%*
Photo courtesy of Mobilus In Mobili
Philly’s Erin Express, held on two consecutive weekends surrounding St. Paddy’s Day, may be the best annual bar crawl in America and has been offering free transportation to 20+ Philly bars for over 30 years. Philly loves the holiday so much that many also celebrate a “St. Practice Day” the weekend before.
Philly’s Erin Express, held on two consecutive weekends surrounding St. Paddy’s Day, may be the best annual bar crawl in America and has been offering free transportation to 20+ Philly bars for over 30 years. Philly loves the holiday so much that many also celebrate a “St. Practice Day” the weekend before.
4. Buffalo, NY
% Irish: 10.9%
Access to Bars Grade: A+
Year Parade Established: 1811
St. Patrick’s Day Facebook Hype: 83%*
Photo courtesy of Sean-Franc Strang
Every year, Buffalo residents ring in the dawn of Spring with not one but two full St. Patrick’s Day parades and city-wide celebrations.
Every year, Buffalo residents ring in the dawn of Spring with not one but two full St. Patrick’s Day parades and city-wide celebrations.
3. Davenport, IA (Quad Cities)
% Irish: 13.1%
Access to Bars Grade: A
Year Parade Established: 1986
St. Patrick’s Day Facebook Hype: 150%*
Photo courtesy of Wikipedia
Davenport and the “Quad Cities” region of Illinois and Iowa host the Grand Parade – the only bi-state St. Patrick’s Day Parade in the U.S followed by a Post Parade Bash filled with Irish revelry.3
Davenport and the “Quad Cities” region of Illinois and Iowa host the Grand Parade – the only bi-state St. Patrick’s Day Parade in the U.S followed by a Post Parade Bash filled with Irish revelry.3
2. Boston, MA
% Irish: 13.6%
Access to Bars Grade: A+
Year Parade Established: 1737
St. Patrick’s Day Facebook Hype: 18%*
Photo courtesy of James Byrum
Boston boasts the largest percentage of its population identifying as Irish on our list. In addition to the Irish pride, the South Boston St. Patrick’s Day Parade is known as one of the largest in the country.
Boston boasts the largest percentage of its population identifying as Irish on our list. In addition to the Irish pride, the South Boston St. Patrick’s Day Parade is known as one of the largest in the country.
1. Pittsburgh, PA
% Irish: 13.5%
Access to Bars Grade: A+
Year Parade Established: 1869
St. Patrick’s Day Facebook Hype: 136%*
Photo courtesy of ccs-pics
Pittsburgh has one of the highest percentage of its population identifying as Irish, great access to bars, a thriving St. Patrick’s Day Parade that boasts over 20,000 participants, and a staggering amount of St. Patrick’s Day hype on Facebook.
Pittsburgh has one of the highest percentage of its population identifying as Irish, great access to bars, a thriving St. Patrick’s Day Parade that boasts over 20,000 participants, and a staggering amount of St. Patrick’s Day hype on Facebook.
How was this calculated?
This list was calculated using the following factors and weights:
| Factor | Weight | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Access to Bars Grade | 35% | This Niche Grade is a combination of bars per 1000 residents and bars per square mile |
| *St. Patrick's Day Facebook Hype | 35% | % of residents interested in the topic "St. Patrick's Day" on Facebook compared to the % of residents on Facebook. |
| % Irish | 20% | % of the population that identifies as Irish |
| Year Parade Established | 10% | Year the city's first St. Patrick's Day was held |
To qualify for the list, the city needed (1) a population of at least 100,000 residents, (2) a St. Patrick’s Day Parade that was at least 25 years old, and (3) a positive “Facebook Hype”. Of note, several large cities like New York City and San Francisco were disqualified from the list due to lack of interest in St. Patrick’s day on Facebook as a percentage of the population.
