The Irish have spread their wings far and wide to settle around the world. Still, their sense of Irish pride remains, especially on 17 March.
From parades that flood the streets in green to epic music festivals celebrating Irish music, these are the best places to celebrate St Patrick’s Day 2025 outside of Ireland.
Did you know that more Irish people live outside of the Emerald Isle than on the island? Estimates suggest around 70 million people worldwide claim Irish heritage or ancestry, far exceeding the island’s population of 6 million,
Having set up home in cities around the world, the Irish diaspora have brought with them various forms of Irish culture and tradition. So, ahead of the island’s national holiday, here are the ten best places to celebrate St Patrick’s Day 2025.
Sydney, Australia – start the party in County Coogee
With a large Irish expat community, it comes as no surprise that Sydney is one of the best places to celebrate St Patrick’s Day 2025 outside of Ireland.
The Australian city hosts a variety of exciting events over the weekend, including the Sydney St Patrick’s Day Parade and Festival from 15 to 17 March.
Expect everything from live music to world-class Irish dancing, Irish language lessons to an Irish outdoor cinema. Families can enjoy craft workshops, face-painting, food stalls and much more around The Rocks.
What’s more, you can even participate in a Paul Mescal and Saoirse Ronan Look-a-like Competition.
Music fans will love Misneach Festival, Dermot Kennedy’s annual global St Patrick’s Day festival celebrating Irish music and culture. Taking place at The Domain on 16 March, the line up features everyone from Dermot Kennedy, Kneecap, and Amble.
New York City, USA – a historic celebration
First held in 1762, the New York City St Patrick’s Parade is one of the world’s oldest celebrations honouring Ireland’s patron saint.
Now drawing around two million visitors, the exciting festival is the biggest in the world, thanks to the city’s large Irish population.
Midtown Manhattan will be transformed into a ‘sea of green’ with Irish music, pipe bands, and entertainers as the procession winds its way down 5th Avenue on Monday.
Boston, USA – celebrating the city’s vibrant Irish community
Thanks to its rich Irish heritage and vibrant community, Boston is also one of the best places to celebrate St Patrick’s Day 2025 outside of Ireland.
As many people will be working on Monday, the parade will take place on Sunday, 16 March. Kicking off at Broadway ‘T’ Station, travelling through South Boston and ending at Andrew Square, you’ll have plenty of opportunity to experience the festivities.
A whole host of exciting events are happening across the weekend, including Dermot Kennedy’s Misneach Festival at Brighton Music Hall on 18 March and TD Garden on 19 March.
London, UK – a lively celebration closer to home
Closer to home, the St Patrick’s Day celebrations in London are sure to be nothing short of spectacular. The diverse metropolitan city is well used to embracing global cultures – and Irishness is no exception, in part due to the city’s large Irish community.
The Mayor of London’s St Patrick’s Festival will take place on Sunday, 16 March 2025, featuring colourful floats, Irish dancers, and marching bands.
Trafalgar Square will be the central hub of celebrations, welcoming live music, food stalls serving Irish specialities, and lots of family-friendly cultural performances.
Montreal, Canada – 200 years of celebrations
This year, the Canadian city welcomes its 200th St Patrick’s Day Parade, which makes its way through Downtown Montreal on 16 March.
Kicking off at noon, the parade follows De Maisonneuve Boulevard between St-Marc and St-Urbain streets, featuring hundreds of floats, marching bands, and music to celebrate the Irish community.
Liverpool, UK – a home away from home
The English city of Liverpool is home to a large Irish population. So, it comes as no surprise that 17 March is a massive celebration in the city.
The lively St Patrick’s Day Parade is set to return to the city on 17 March, kicking off at 2 pm at the former Irish Centre on Mount Pleasant. The parade will wind its way along Hope Street, Renshaw Street, and Seel Street before concluding its journey on Slater Street around 4 pm.
Various other events will take place around the city to mark the occasion. Don’t miss the vibrant weekend of activities at Baltic Triangle’s BOXPARK. With drag bingo, a Family Sunday Social, live Irish bands, and a bottomless brunch, there’s plenty to enjoy.
Chicago, USA – where the river turns green
Back in the USA, one of the best places to celebrate St Patrick’s Day 2025 outside of Ireland is in Chicago.
From the Chicago River turning luminous shades of green to the Chicago St Patrick’s Day Parade, with its colourful floats and marching bands, there’s lots to enjoy.
This year’s parade will kick off at noon on Saturday, 15 March, welcoming thousands of revellers to Downtown Chicago. Dating back 175 years, the celebration is one of the oldest in the world.
For something extra special, why not take a cruise down the luminous green river for the best view? Enjoy themed cocktails and traditional Irish cuisine as you listen to live bagpipe music while cruising down the river.
Buenos Aires, Argentina – celebrating the homeland
Perhaps coming as somewhat of a surprise, Buenos Aires is among the best places to celebrate St Patrick’s Day 2025 outside of Ireland.
Argentina actually has the fifth-largest Irish diaspora of anywhere in the world – and the Irish community come out in full force to celebrate the national holiday.
Taking place at Avenida de Mayo on 17 March, the lively celebration will feature a parade, with elves, fairies, bagpipers, and Irish dancers. Traditional Irish food and beer will also be on offer in stands along Avenida de Mayo.
Tokyo, Japan – the biggest Paddy’s Day celebration in Asia
The Japanese capital is another surprising destination that goes all out to celebrate St Patrick’s Day.
Hosting the oldest, largest, and most extravagant St Patrick’s celebration in all of Asia, the festivities feature an ‘I Love Ireland Festival’ at Yoyogi Park. Expect traditional Irish dancing, lots of food and friendly rugby scrums.
This year, the parade will take place on 16 March, kicking off at 1 pm on Omotesando Dori.
Montserrat, Caribbean – where Paddy’s Day is a national holiday
Believe it or not, Montserrat in the Caribbean is the only place outside of Ireland where St Patrick’s Day is a national holiday.
This year’s celebrations run from 8 to 17 March 2025, offering a unique blend of Irish and African traditions. The celebration kicks off with the Lighting of the Symbolic Flame and culminates with the St Patrick’s Day Parade on 17 March.
Staying at home? Check out the best places for Paddy’s Day in Ireland this year.
