Celebrate Irish history and culture this St. Patrick’s Day on Tuesday, the 17th of March 2026. Despite the actual day falling on a weekday, celebrations across the country are not slowing down or stalling. Each year, without fail, people will be looking for events to attend and for things to do on St. Patrick's Day.
Well, this year, you can go easy on the search and consider the following St. Patrick’s Day activities:
- Attending parades
- Having a gift exchange
5 of the Biggest St. Patrick’s Day Parades to Attend
From the very first recorded St. Patrick’s Day parades held by Irish immigrants to reconnect with their culture and to honor Saint Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, to the massive parades and festivals held now, parades play a key role in honoring and celebrating Irish culture across the country. Parades, festivals and events will be hosted across the country, but a few stand out as some of the biggest and most iconic.
“If you are not close to a major parade or want to travel to one in a different state, be sure to check out our Days Out coupon codes and Travel promo codes,” says resident deal finder, Marylyn Ncube. You want to make sure you get the best travel deals for St. Patrick’s Day, and money-saving deals on car rentals and accommodation options when you’re attending the following parades:
1. NYC St. Patrick’s Day Parade
- Date: 17 March 2026
This year’s New York City Saint Patrick’s Day Parade is the 265th one, with the first one dating back all the way to 1762. Starting at exactly 11:00 am on Fifth Avenue, you can expect to see hundreds of thousands of marchers and possibly millions of parade attendees painting the streets green!
At this parade, you can expect to see a display of Irish culture in its most authentic form. There will be marching bands, performers and marchers from all over the country who will be displaying various aspects of Irish culture through dance, music and performance.
2. Chicago St. Patrick’s Day Parade
- Date: 14 March 2026
Proudly presenting this year’s parade theme of ‘Faith, Peace, and Unity’, the Chicago St. Patrick’s Day Parade will be bringing attendees together to celebrate Irish culture and history. The parade attracts thousands of attendees and will feature displays of bagpipes, Irish dancing and more.
The parade officially starts at 12:15 pm, but the real star of the show that attracts spectators is the dyeing of the Chicago River. Every year for the St. Patrick’s Day parade, the river is dyed green. This year, this will happen before the parade starts, at 10:00 am.
The parade is free to attend, but considering its size and number of attendees, you can ensure you get the best view by purchasing a ticket for grandstand seating.
3. Cleveland St. Patrick's Day Parade
- Date: 17 March 2026
The Cleveland St. Patrick's Day Parade’s theme this year is ‘Celebrating 250 Years of Irish and Irish-American Contributions to the Land of the Free’, and it kicks off at 1:00 pm.
With a reasonably sized Irish-American population in Cleveland, you can expect a huge turnout because St. Patrick’s Day is a big deal. Aside from the actual parade, which will be a lively display of things Irish with thousands of marchers, you can expect a display of Irish culture from the locals. Local pubs and restaurants will be joining in to provide hearty Irish meals and drinks!
4. San Francisco St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Festival
- Date: 14 March 2026
This year marks the 175th year of the San Francisco St. Patrick’s Day Parade and the theme is ‘Happy 250th America — You Are Great’ to honor 250 years of America, as well as the relationship between America and Ireland. Various Irish societies and groups, academies, performers and businesses will be participating in San Francisco’s largest Irish celebration.
The official parade starts at 11:00 am and is followed by the Unite SF Festival where attendees of all ages can continue to celebrate the occasion. During the festival, there will be more cultural performances, including traditional dance and music, live performances and plenty of food and drinks.
The fun doesn’t end there, as there will also be a sporting event where traditional Irish athletics will be shown by youth and sports groups. The featured sports include Irish football, camogie, rugby and more.
5. South Boston St. Patrick’s Day Parade
- Date: 15 March 2026
Head down to the capital of Irish America, Boston, for the South Boston St. Patrick’s Day/Evacuation Day Parade! The city has a rich Irish history and while it is clear as day any other time, it will really come alive for the St. Patrick’s Day parade. Expect marching bands, pipe bands, floats and more.
The parade won’t be the only cultural display that day. You can also catch a performance by the Dropkick Murphy’s at MGM Music Hall, pop into one of many Irish pubs and restaurants along the parade route, or take part in or go cheer on the racers in the St Patrick's Day 5K Road Race. The city of Boston will be offering a wide range of activities to take part in over St. Patrick’s weekend and week.
4 St. Patrick's Day Gift Ideas
Unlike other holidays and occasions, St. Patrick’s Day is not typically an occasion for gift giving, but if you want to spread some more cheer and luck, you can set aside time for gift giving! For this, you would have to focus on Irish-themed gifts. From clothing that features shamrocks as part of the design and Celtic jewelry to food, snacks and drinks from Ireland, there is so much to find.
As this is a big occasion and many will be celebrating, you may find yourself filling up your carts and shopping baskets with more gifts than you planned. If so, our Gift coupon codes page has all the money-saving deals you will need to keep your gift budget in control.
1. Happy St. Patrick’s Day Berries
- Price: $54.99
Share the St. Patrick’s Day cheer and luck with close friends and family with this treat. Specially made for the celebration, the treat consists of six chocolate-covered strawberries with a fun twist. The strawberries are also decorated with green shamrock-shaped candies and green-colored chocolate drizzle!
You can send these out as gifts or order them to take with you to a party. However you choose to share this gift, you can get a good deal on it with a GourmetGiftBaskets.com promo code.
2. The Toast of Ireland™ Signature Blend
- Price: $39.99
Whiskey has a significant place in Irish culture and history, and is a must-have during St. Patrick’s Day. Traditionally, a bottle of whiskey is meant to be shared and, alongside beer, is key during celebrations such as this day. It is just one of many products of Ireland’s rich culture, and as such, there is no better gift to give than a bottle of Irish whiskey.
As part of the celebrations, you can gift a piece of Irish culture with this specific bottle of whiskey. A mixture of triple barrel premium American bourbon, matured single grain whiskey and triple distilled Sherry aged single malt whiskey, this bottle is the gift that will keep giving, especially during a party!
You can save on this quality bottle with a Slainte Irish Whiskey promo code. The giving doesn’t have to end there, as you can get deals on green beer and many other drinks for the Irish celebration for those over the age of 21 with our Alcohol promo codes.
3. Best of Ireland Gourmet Gift Basket
- Price: $139.95
A gift basket is one gift suitable for any and every occasion. For St. Paddy’s, this Best of Ireland gift basket is just the right gift to bring to a party. With a The Irish Store discount code, you can order this gourmet gift basket that consists of well-loved Irish treats and snacks. Whether you choose to gift the whole basket or gift the snacks individually, you will be adding to the St. Paddy’s culture of indulging in good food and drink.
The treats and snacks inside the gift basket are:
- Bewley’s Gold Roast Coffee (200g)
- Bewley’s Irish Afternoon Tea in Tin (93g)
- Irish Atlantic Salted Caramel (125g)
- Butlers Luxury Chocolates (130g)
- Triple Choc Chip Cookies by Irish Pantry Foods (150g)
- Luxurious Lemon Shorties by Irish Pantry Foods (150g)
- Red Pepper Relish by Irish Pantry Foods (180g)
- Breakfast Marmalade by Irish Pantry Foods (227g)
- Winter Berry Jam by Irish Pantry Foods (227g)
- Foods of Athenry Cider Cake (425g)
- Belgian Chocolate Biscuit Cake by Irish Pantry Foods (450g)
4. Northlight Lucky Gnome St. Patrick's Day Figurine
- Price: $34.79
One of the best gifts to give is one of prosperity and luck, and this 16-inch lucky gnome happens to be just that. Dressed in green with a hat covered in shamrocks and holding a “Lucky” banner, this figurine is the perfect gift to give to that close friend or family member who would appreciate the luck of the Irish.
It can be gifted as a home decor item suitable for placing anywhere around the house. For a St. Patrick’s Day party, it can be placed front and centre for everyone to see and get some luck from! The figurine (and other St. Patrick’s Day gifts) can be purchased at a discounted price with a Target promo code.
Save on Things to do on St. Patrick's Day With St. Patrick's Day Promo Codes
Don’t spend a fortune when planning things to do on St. Patrick's Day! Whether you are attending a parade or two, taking in the city sites or attending various cultural events, save money by making sure you use St. Patrick's Day promo codes on everything from travel plans to gifts!
