St. Patrick’s Day is once again shaping up to be a thrilling celebration of Irish culture, with festivities happening throughout the weekend of the 17th of March!
With events taking place in the days before and after, the holiday has evolved into a full-scale festival embraced by communities worldwide. In Ireland, it remains a national holiday, giving many the chance to fully immerse themselves in the fun and heritage.
With so much happening, we’re spoiled for choice! Give a search for your local area and you’re likely to find standout events showcasing the best in Irish music, song, and dance this year.
Below, we’ve started a list of free St. Patrick’s Day Parades around the world to kick off your celebrations.
Parades Around the World
Ireland
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- Dublin – March 17, 12:00 PM (City Centre)
- Cork – March 17 (St. Patrick’s Street & Grand Parade)
- Galway – March 17 (Eyre Square & Latin Quarter)
- Limerick – March 17, Noon (City Centre)
- Kilkenny – March 17 (City Centre)
- Wexford – March 17
(Most places in Ireland will have something on March 17th!)
United Kingdom
- Belfast – March 17, 1:30 PM
- Derry – March 17 (plus a carnival!)
- Armagh – March 17, 1:00 PM
- London – March 16 (Central London)
- Manchester – March 16, 12:00 PM (Irish World Heritage Centre to Deansgate)
- Liverpool – March 17, 2:00 PM
Mainland Europe
- Madrid, Spain – March 15, 5:00 PM (Gran Vía to Plaza de España)
- Munich, Germany – March 16, 12:00 PM (Münchner Freiheit to Odeonsplatz)
- The Hague, Netherlands – March 16 (Grote Markt)
- Oslo, Norway – March 15, 12:30 PM
Canada
- Montréal – March 16 (Sainte-Catherine Street)
- Toronto – March 16 (Downtown)
- Halifax – March 16, 1:00 PM (and you can catch a Virtual Parade on their website!)
United States
- New York City, New York – March 17, 11:00 AM (Fifth Avenue)
- Boston, Massachusetts – March 16, 11:30 AM
- Chicago, Illinois –
- South Side Parade – March 15
- Downtown Parade and River Dyeing – March 16 (Downtown & Chicago River Dyeing)
- Northwest Side Parade – March 16, noon
- Denver, Colorado – March 15, 9:30 AM
- San Francisco, California – March 15 (Downtown)
- Savannah, Georgia – March 17 (City Centre)
- Milwaukee, Wisconsin – March 15, 12:00 PM (Downtown)
- Cleveland, Ohio – March 17, 1:04 PM (Superior Avenue)
- Detroit, Michigan – March 16, 1:00 PM
- Hartford, Connecticut – March 15, 11:00 AM (Capitol to Memorial Arch)
- New Orleans, Louisiana – March 16 (Metairie Rd)
- Houston, Texas – March 15, 11:00 AM – 8:00 PM (POST Houston)
- Charlotte, North Carolina – March 15 (Uptown)
- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – March 16, 11:00 AM
- Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania – March 15, 10:00 AM (Grant St)
- Kansas City, Missouri – March 17, 11:00 AM (Broadway Blvd)
South America
- Buenos Aires, Argentina: Monday, March 17, 3:00 PM (Avenida de Mayo)
- Mexico City, Mexico – March 16, 11:00 AM
Africa – We didn’t spot any specific parade times, but you’ll find parties, music festivals, and fun events across Liberia, Ghana, Egypt, South Africa, and more.
Asia
- Singapore – March 17
- Seoul, South Korea – March 15
- Tokyo, Japan – March 16
Australia
- Sydney – March 16, 11:00 AM
- Brisbane: Saturday, March 15, 10:30 AM (Alice Street)
More Events to Check Out!
St. Patrick’s Day in Dublin
The National St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Dublin is scheduled for Monday, March 17, 2025, at 12:00 PM, beginning at Parnell Square and proceeding through the city center.
This year’s parade will feature 7 large-scale pageants, 6 showpieces, and 12 marching bands from across Ireland, North America, and Austria, totaling over 4,000 participants.
Major parades are also planned in other Irish cities, including Belfast, Cork, Galway, Limerick, and Kilkenny.
Don’t worry if you can’t attend in person, RTÉ, Ireland’s national broadcaster, has you covered! They’ll provide live coverage of the Dublin parade on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player, bringing the festivities to audiences in any location, near or far.
More St. Patrick’s Festival Highlights
In addition to the parade, the St. Patrick’s Festival in Dublin features a range of events celebrating Irish culture, music, and storytelling:
- Dublin City Council St. Patrick’s Festival Treasure Hunt – Saturday, March 15
- Spréacha na hoíche – Sparks of the Night – March 15-16 (fire performance shows at three Dublin City locations)
- Music Generation Cavan/Monaghan Cross-Border Folk Orchestra – A 100-piece youth orchestra reimagining the works of accordion legend Máirtín O’Connor.
- Abair | Say a Song Exhibition Launch & Concert – Led by Doireann Ní Ghlacáin, this event explores Ireland’s rich oral song tradition.
- Sunflower Sessions: Yoga & Live Music – Saturday, March 15, at Smock Alley Theatre
- Céilí Mór – Monday, March 17, 2:00-5:00 PM at Merrion Square West, led by Dearbhla Lennon & The Beartla Ó Flatharta Céilí Band
- A Toast to St. Patrick’s Day at Jameson Distillery Bow St. – March 17, 12:00-2:00 PM, featuring live music, dance, and special performances by KK Lewis, The Kane Sisters, and Rotten Rogue.
For a full list of festival events, visit stpatricksfestival.ie.
St. Patrick’s Festival 2025 in Belfast
Belfast is set to celebrate St. Patrick’s Festival 2025 with a diverse lineup of music, workshops, tours, and cultural events throughout the city. You’ll find something for everyone to enjoy, from traditional Irish music to contemporary performances and all kinds of great fun.
Festival Highlights
- Afro Celt Sound System – A high-energy fusion of Irish, African, and electronic music.
- Fiddle Workshop with John McCusker – Learn traditional tunes from a renowned musician.
- Féile Trad Trail – Live traditional Irish music sessions across Belfast.
- Stevie Corr’s Walking Tour – Explore Milltown Cemetery’s rich history and stories.
- St. Patrick’s Music Festival – A multi-venue showcase of traditional and contemporary Irish music.
- Hillsborough Castle & Gardens – Family-friendly celebrations in a stunning historic setting.
- Songwriting with Electronics – A creative workshop blending Irish music with electronic sounds.
- Food, Drink & Nightlife – Tasty street food, classic Irish drinks, and lively pubs.
For a full festival lineup and details, visit visitbelfast.com.
Montserrat, West Indies and St. Patrick’s Day
The Caribbean island of Montserrat is the only place outside of Ireland where St. Patrick’s Day is a public holiday, but for a unique reason. March 17th marks the 252nd anniversary of a failed slave uprising against the island’s European colonizers in the 18th century.
Today, the occasion is honored with a nine-day festival celebrating independence, blending Montserrat’s Irish and African heritage with a distinctly Caribbean twist. Expect vibrant festivities, cultural events, and, of course, plenty of shamrocks raised in celebration!
London St. Patrick’s Festival 2025
London’s St. Patrick’s Festival returns on Sunday, March 16, 2025, bringing a vibrant celebration of Irish culture to the heart of the city. Live music, dance, food, and immersive experiences will transform Trafalgar Square, honoring the London Irish community’s contributions to the city.
Here’s an insight into some of the Festival Highlights:
Live Music & Main Stage Performances
Hosted by Irish-Indian-Malaysian DJ and broadcaster Tara Kumar, the main stage will feature an outstanding lineup curated by the London Irish Centre, including performances from:
- Kíla – One of Ireland’s most celebrated traditional and contemporary fusion bands
- Irish Women in Harmony – A collective of talented female Irish artists
- Rag-CV – A rising star in the Irish music scene
Irish Creative Collective Sessions
A dynamic mix of comedy, spoken word, and Irish film and TV shorts, showcasing Ireland’s creative talents.
Irish Dance Workshops – Learn traditional Irish dance steps with expert instructors.
Peace Heroines Exhibition
A powerful showcase honoring the often-overlooked women who played a crucial role in Ireland’s peace process.
Celebrity Chef Anna Haugh at The Wee Sisters
Renowned Irish chef Anna Haugh will take everyone on a culinary journey celebrating Irish fare at her new place, The Wee Sisters, a wine and food bar.
This Year’s Sustainability Theme
This year’s festival emphasizes London’s work for sustainability and green action, featuring:
- Artburst Workshops – Make headdresses, bunting, and a giant mural with recycled materials.
- The Song Cycle – A film documenting Nick Kelly and his band Dogs, who cycled from Dublin to Glastonbury, blending sustainability with music. They’ll be cycling to London to join the festival and perform live.
For the full festival schedule, visit london.gov.uk.
Celtic Festival in Vancouver, Canada
Events run from March 7th-22nd!
With live music, family activities, lots of food, great drinks, street parties, comedy shows, and more, the Celtic Festival is back and bigger than ever!
See all the details and event schedule here.
And so much more around the world!
Globally, cities all over the place will host St. Patrick’s Day parades and celebrations, though dates may vary. Whether you’re thinking about New York, Berlin, Chicago, Petoria, Cairo, Halifax, Boston, Seoul, Dubai, Auckland, Sydney, or any other, you should be sure to check local listings for specific details.
We couldn’t possibly find and list them all, so if you know of any other events, share them in the comments for others to see. And enjoy!
To get session-ready for the big day browse our full range of traditional Irish musical instruments for sale and order now.
Can’t wait for the 17th?? Start the party now with the McNeela Traditional Irish Music Paddy’s Day Playlist
Photo Credits – St Patrick’s Festival, Ireland, 2025
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