While St Patrick is an Irish saint, any city in the US with a strong Irish community will have its own form of celebration for St Patrick’s Day. The annual celebration is held on March 17th and one of the main events takes place in New York, where you can enjoy many Irish traditions. This year’s event falls on a Tuesday and you might have to book leave from work if you want to be there, as St Patrick’s Day is not a federal holiday; however, it is worth taking time off to experience the festivities.
The main event of the day is the parade. This will take you along Fifth Avenue and past a number of different attractions in the city, including Central Park and the cathedral named after the saint. The parade will begin at 11am on 44th Street and usually finishes between 4.30pm and 5pm on East 80th Street in front of the American Irish Historical Society.
The celebrations will not end there. You can go on to one of the many Irish pubs in New York and enjoy a pint of Guinness – a traditional Irish beer (or stout). The pubs are sure to be filled with people who want to celebrate; therefore, if you want a table (or a seat!) you will have to get there early. Be prepared for people singing Irish songs and for the celebrations to go on until the early hours of the morning.
