If you find yourself in New York City on St. Patrick’s Day, you’re in luck. It’s one of the best places to celebrate the holiday as it’s home to the oldest and largest parade in the world. The sound of bagpipers music fills the air and you’ll find people decked out in green on every corner of the city. It’s a truly magical experience! 

The Parade

The St. Patrick’s Day parade kicks off on 44th street and moves up Fifth Avenue all the way to 79th Street. Some of the best places to watch the parade are from the steps of St. Patrick’s Cathedral or from Central Park. Arrive early if you’re hoping to watch the parade as it gets extremely crowded. But don’t worry if you can’t find a spot on the street, lots of bars and restaurants will be playing it on their TVs. 

The parade, which is predominantly run by volunteers, is held on March 17th (unless the date falls on a Sunday, in which case the parade takes place on the 16th). If you do go to watch, you’ll see floats, dancers, and of course bagpipers marching through the streets. In fact, more than 150,000 people march in the parade!

Food

After the parade, you’ll want to find yourself a good old Irish pub or restaurant to visit. Grab yourself a pint of Guinness, some corned beef and cabbage and toast to St. Patrick. There’s a large concentration of Irish pubs and restaurants around midtown, which is ideal if you’ve just watched the parade. If you’re skipping the parade, you’ll be able to find a bar to celebrate no matter where you find yourself in New York City. 

Other Ways to Celebrate

Watching the parade and green beer isn’t the only way to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in New York City. You can also learn a bit more about Irish history, as it’s truly engrained in the city. You can head to Woodlawn, which is in the Bronx. This neighborhood is often referred to as “Little Ireland” and you can find a lot of Irish owned businesses here. Another great place to visit is the Tenement Museum on the Lower East Side. You can get a guided tour and see how the Irish families lived in the tenements when they first arrived in the city. You should also visit the Irish Hunger Memorial in Battery Park City. 

If you’re looking to plan your own St. Paddy’s day celebrations and are looking for a venue to host it in, we can help! VenueScanner connects people in the best spaces. That ranges from corporate events to personal celebrations. So if you’re interested in hosting your own bash, get in touch and we can help you find a great venue rental.