St. Patrick’s Day Celebrations Across USA

Gather up the group. Dust off the bagpipes. And, brush up on your blarney. ‘Tis time to salute the Irish for St. Patrick’s Day 2014.

We here at BusRates.com would offer that you should be pinched for not wearing or driving green.

By planning your group travel’s transportation with a coach, then you’ll offer your group a green way to join the celebration. A coach bus is 475% more efficient than a hybrid vehicle in the amount of fuel used per passenger. Plus, it emits 62.5% less carbon dioxide than a car for a four-hour trip.

So where should you point your coach rental for this year’s St. Patrick’s Day? The following are the top five celebrations in the U.S.

New York City, NY

The New York City St. Patrick’s Day Parade is a 252-year old tradition that is the largest St. Patrick’s Day parade in the world, as well as the oldest civilian parade. More than 150,000 marchers comprised of police officers, firefighters, bagpipers, bands, emigrant societies and politicians take over 5th Avenue for the 1.5 mile/five hour parade.

Savannah, GA

The oldest city in Georgia plays host to the second largest St. Patrick’s celebration in the United States, attracting more than 400,000 each year. Unlike New York, the Savannah festivities are a multi-day event, and include an early morning mass at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, followed by the parade.

Chicago, IL

There’s something definitely in the water when it comes to celebrating in Chicago. Each year thousands line the banks of the Chicago River as over 40-pounds of environmentally friendly dye turn the river green in honor of one of the area’s largest ethnic groups. The tradition started in 1962, and is the perfect backdrop for the downtown parade and neighborhood celebrations.

Boston, MA

Beantown boasts the world’s first recorded parade for St. Patrick’s, along with one of the most vibrant Irish communities in the nation. More than 850,000 gather in Boston each year for one of the biggest parades and a celebration that encompasses the entire city.

San Francisco, CA

The city by the bay has held a St. Patrick’s Day celebration since 1852. Drawing more than 100,000 revelers, the San Francisco celebration is the largest west of the Rockies. Festivities kick off with a mid-morning parade at Second and Market that culminates in an all-day festival at the Civic Center Plaza.