The first Saint Patrick’s Day parade didn’t take place in Ireland but in the United States. Some say it was in Boston while others give New York the credit. Originally a Catholic feast day, Saint Patrick’s Day gained more recognition with a parade in the 18th Century and now it’s one of America’s biggest cultural holidays.
More than 32 million people in the U.S. claim Irish ancestry – that’s over six and a half times the population of Ireland. As this group grew over the centuries, so did American Saint Patrick’s Day traditions. Chicago, for example, is famous for dyeing its river green, while other cities are known for their big parades, pub crawls, or long processions of marching bagpipers. This year, Americans are expected to spend $5.9 billion or $39.65 per person to celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day.
What are the best places to celebrate the wearin’ of the green? WalletHub looked at Irish pubs and restaurants per capita, the lowest price for a three-star hotel, the weather forecast, and other items to pick out the top 200 of the nation’s largest cities for celebrating Saint Patrick’s Day.
Here are the top 20 from its list:
- Chicago
- Boston
- Philadelphia
- Buffalo, New York
- New York
- San Francisco
- Fort Collins, Colorado
- Tampa, Florida
- Madison, Wisconsin
- Pittsburgh
- Louis, Missouri
- Henderson, New York
- Naperville, Illinois
- Reno
- Seattle
- Omaha
- Columbus
- Rochester, New York
- Syracuse, New York
- Fort Wayne, Indiana
