Nobody disputes the “luck” of the Irish. Their mascots include a leprechaun, a four-leafed clover, and a pot of gold for Christ’s sake. Along with their reputation for being lucky, the Irish are also known for an ability to consume large amounts of alcohol, and outside of the occasional bar brawl, they know how to have a very fun time. If your city hasn’t canceled their St. Patty’s Day celebration, it’s bound to be one of the most fun celebrations of 2020.
32.1 million Americans claim Irish ancestry, and millions more people pretending to be Irish will gather in pubs around the country to get sloshed on Jameson whiskey and Guinness, all in the name of Irish spirit. To put this in perspective, understand that before the coronavirus outbreak, there was to be an estimated 819% increase in Guinness consumption on St. Patrick’s Day compared to the rest of the year, with 174% more beer sold overall. All celebrations are not created equal, so if you want to get drunk and lucky this weekend, we have included a list of the best places to do it.
To determine the best cities for celebrating St. Patty’s Day, WalletHub compared 200 of the largest U.S. cities across 17 key metrics, ranging from Irish pubs and restaurants per capita to lowest price for a three-star hotel on St. Patrick’s Day to weather forecast.
Top 20 Cities for St. Patrick’s Day
1. Chicago, IL
2. Boston, MA
3. Philadelphia, PA
4. Pittsburgh, PA
5. Tampa, FL
6. Naperville, IL
7. New York, NY
8. Buffalo, NY
9. Cleveland, OH
10. Cedar Rapids, IA
To view the full report and your city’s rank, please visit: https://wallethub.com/edu/best-worst-cities-for-st-patricks-day-celebrations/19603/
Chicago does St. Patty’s Day right, and they even dye their River green for the celebration! It takes 40 pounds of dye to make it happen, and that sight alone is worth the trip . If you go, you’ll be joining 400,000 Chicagoans that watch the dye being poured into the river, but the festivities do not stop there. With various parades, bar crawls, river boat rides, and local neighborhood celebrations, the Windy City is the place to get your Irish soda bread and Guinness this weekend.
If you can’t make it to Chitown this weekend, there is always a great party at Tilted Kilt, Twin Peaks, and Hooters, which are nationwide chains that consistently deliver. Be safe out there this weekend, and don’t put back too many Irish car Bombs!
-Your Big Bro