Put on your green gear and grab a Guinness - we've rounded up some of the world's best St. Patrick's Day celebrations that will leave you feeling as lucky as the Irish.
Dublin, Ireland
For a very Irish festival that’s sure to entertain, journey to Dublin for the annual St Patrick’s Day bash. The programme includes six days of family events, film, comedy, music, visual arts, and an Irish language celebration called Gael-Spraoi. On 17 March, watch in amazement as talented street theatre troupes, giant puppets, whirling dancers, glittery floats and jazzy marching bands gallivant through Dublin’s city centre, starting at Parnell Square, during the highly anticipated St Patrick’s Day Parade. Continue the celebration at the Funfair, a spectacular carnival on the river Liffey that is guaranteed to light up your night.
Boston, USA
Shimmy into your shamrock-clad gear and head to Boston, home to the original St Patties’ Day celebration in 1737. Be prepared to find yourself guzzling Guinness alongside Bostonians in this city, as it has more Irish pubs than any other place in the USA. For an emerald spectacle, go to the restaurant 75 Chestnut on Beacon Hill from 17-19 March for green beer, head-to-toe green garb, and Irish gastronomical staples like corned beef and cabbage, Guinness, and beef stew. Before the beer starts flowing, be sure to follow along the 20-site, 4.8km (3-mile) Irish Heritage Trail, a self-guided walking tour that will teach you about the rich history of Irish culture in Boston.
Brades, Montserrat
Swap beer for rum and shamrocks for palm trees on Montserrat, the world’s other “Emerald Isle”. The only country other than Ireland to celebrate St Patrick’s Day as an official holiday, the festivities on this Caribbean gem begin on 13 March and boast a seven-day agenda crammed with events reflecting the nation’s vibrant African and Irish heritage. Gaze up to colourful skies during the Kite Festival; enjoy a performance by the Emerald Community Singers Irish Cabaret; and taste savoury, traditional dishes like goat water, a cousin of Irish stew, at the Heritage Day Feast on 17 March. It all takes place in the laid-back, beachy city of Brades.
New York City, USA
With 150,000 marchers clad in traditional Irish attire and throngs of crowds lining the entire parade path from 5th Avenue to 86th Street, St Patrick’s Day in New York City is an event that won’t disappoint. You won’t find yourself watching floats or automobiles in this traditional marching-band parade, but you will be entranced by the sounds of talented bagpipers, drummers, and pipers from around the world. Grab a spot on the upper steps of the Metropolitan Museum of Art for a fantastic view of the marchers and the green sea of spectators who emerge to celebrate St Patrick’s Day in one of America’s greatest cities. It all begins at 1100 on 17 March.
London, UK
Don’t fret if you missed London‘s official St Patrick’s Day celebration – there’s still plenty of green-themed partying planned around the city. If you’re seeking the lively energy of a parade, skip off to Willesden Green in Brent on 17 March, where you’ll find yourself among a kaleidoscope of colour at the St Patrick’s Day parade taking place at 1630. Alternatively, settle down for a night of laughs at the Medieval Banquet in St Katherine Docks, London, on 17 March at 1915. Satisfy your hunger with a 4-course menu of traditional Irish fare, washed down with unlimited ale and wine, while enjoying the Celtic-inspired theatrical performance. Don’t forget to wear green for a free pint of Guinness upon arrival.
* Fancy something different to Reading Festival or Glastonbury? Check out our selection of the best Festivals 2010.
* Take a break in the sun, city or snow, with our Ideas for Easter Holidays.
* Read our review of the Salthouse Harbour Hotel in Ipswich for a luxury weekend in the UK.
