St. Patrick’s Day festivities 2011

Green is absolutely my favorite color. Naturally, I love St. Patrick’s Day! Everyone sports some type of green apparel. Violators beware: the general rule is if you don’t wear some kind of green, you’re vulnerable to pinching! (Don’t forget to dress your child appropriately to avoid this!)

In addition to wearing green, many towns usually have St. Patrick’s Day parades filled with music and family friendly activities. Parades are a great opportunity for friends and families to get together and enjoy a fun time outdoors. Here are a few noteworthy events to check out if you’re in the area!

Boston

Boston’s St. Patrick’s Day parade starts at 1 pm on Sunday, March 20. The parade begins at the Broadway Train Station and ends at Andrew Square in South Boston. Extravagant floats, music, and cheer fill the streets to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in Boston’s most Irish neighborhood!

Chicago

Chicago celebrates St. Patrick’s Day by dying the Chicago River green on Saturday March 12 at 10 am. Now that alone is something worth the trip! The best view of the river is said to be from the east side of the Michigan Avenue Bridge and the west side of the Columbus Drive Bridge.

Savannah, Georgia

The Savannah Parade, the second largest St. Patrick’s Day Parade in the United States, will take place on Thursday, March 17 at 10:15 a.m. It’s expected that over 400,000 people will attend the parade to celebrate the holiday!

Hot Springs, Arkansas

The World’s Shortest St. Patrick’s Day Parade will be held on March 17 in Hot Springs, Arkansas. The parade follows a 98-foot long route along Bridge Street. Pre-parade festivities include a Blarney Stone Kissing Contest.

San Francisco

San Francisco’s 160th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Festival will take place on Saturday, March 12 at the Civic Center Plaza from 10 am to 5 pm. In addition to the parade, live performances, cultural displays, and other entertainment will showcase Irish culture for those wanting to learn!

How does your town celebrate St. Patty’s Day?

Michelle Moore is an intern at Mom Central.

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