The TOP 14 Things To Do in New York on St. Patrick’s Day (Weekend)

St. Patrick's Day Events

It’s that time again! March in NYC is home to one of the most popular holidays in NYC. The famous holiday, St. Patrick’s Day in New York will be celebrated on the 17th of March and the atmosphere in the city will be exciting and festive. You don’t have to be Irish to enjoy this amazing holiday. Just make sure to wear green and celebrate! It’s an experience everyone should take part of.

When is St. Patrick’s Day in New York?

Every year, on March 17, St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated. It’s an official holiday in Ireland and locals and tourists alike will spend their time with friends and family. Bars will be filled up and people will line up 5th Avenue to watch the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in NYC.

When will the 2023 St. Patrick’s Day Parade take place?

The 2023 Parade will be held on Friday, March 17.

What exactly is St. Patrick’s Day?

The honorable saint of Ireland, St. Patrick, is honored on this day. St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated not only in New York but worldwide. In the US, however, it is very popular and widespread because of the 19 million Irish that lives here. With green being one of the colors of the Irish flag, it only makes sense everything has to be green on this day. Faces, flags, and clothing will be green. In Chicago, even their river is dyed in a green hue. The beer and also the Empire State Building adorns itself with a green crown.

What are the best St. Patrick’s Day Events in NYC?

These are the best Best Things To Do in New York on St. Patrick’s Day that you shouldn’t miss:

  1. 01

    St. Patrick’s Day Parade

    Other Events in Midtown Manhattan
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    The famous St. Patrick’s Day Parade, which is one of the oldest, attracts around 700,000 people annually who want to be part of the spectacle. The parade takes place either directly on March 17th or – if it is a weekday – on the following weekend. Destination of the parade is the St. Patrick Cathedral. At 11 a.m. on the dot, the parade starts moving north at 44th Street/corner of 5th Avenue.

    The St. Patrick’s Day Parade route will stay on 5th Avenue, and will run from 44th Street, will pass by St. Patrick’s Cathedral, and will end on 79th Street. The parade will begin at approximately 11 AM– 4:30 PM EST. We suggest that spectators plan your trip accordingly so you can claim your spot along 5th Avenue. It will get busy and it will be crowded. We also recommend taking public transportation into the city as well. Parking will definitely be limited and certain roads will be shut down, making it very difficult to navigate.

  2. 02

    Check out the numerous pubs within the city

    Bar in Midtown Manhattan
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    There will definitely be special menus and prices based on the holiday. Check out some of our favorite bars on St. Patrick’s Day!

  3. 03

    Go to a Whiskey Tasting

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    The Parlour Room in Midtown Manhattan is not only a nice restaurant with some delicious dishes on their menu but they also offer a variety of whiskeys and craft cocktails. When you’re a fan of whiskey you should definitely try one of their whiskey tasting flights!

    Exclusively for St. Patrick’s Day The Parlour Room offers a special whiskey tasting experience where you’ll be able to try some of the most exciting Irish Whiskeys. Everyone 21 and over can participate in this tasting event where you’ll have a table in a secured space in a calm environment.

    • When? March 17, 2023, 5 PM – 10 PM
    • Where? The Parlour Room (70 W 36th)

    You can book your table here.

  4. 04

    Explore the catacombs underneath St. Patrick's Old Cathedral

    Walking Tour in Nolita
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    You will be surprised how beautiful Basilica of St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral in Nolita is from the inside – and that it hides some secrets. The best way to find out what they are is to take a tour that takes you to different parts of the church, including the catacombs. As you explore, learn all about the landmark’s place in New York history and discover the final resting place of famous New Yorkers past.

    It is one of the absolute insider tours in New York!

  5. 05

    Get yourself a green beer!

    Bar in Greenwich Village
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    At Loreley Beer Garden the Rhine metropolis Cologne meets New York. The owner, Michael Momm, a real “Kölscher Jung”, opened this piece of Germany in the middle of New York in 2003. Here you will find a large selection of German beers (including Kölsch, of course) and good German wines at fair prices, as well as a delicious selection of German dishes.

    From Wednesday, March 15, to Sunday, March 19, 2023 the Loreley Beer Garden offers some St. Patrick’s Day specials like green beer and green frozen margaritas. Dive into the Irish culture with some green drinks!

  6. 06

    Try delicious authentic Irish food!

    Bar in Financial District
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    Enjoy real Irish hospitality and try delicious pies, shellfish, Irish stew or Black and white pudding in one of the many Irish restaurants. You will be surprised how good the food is in many Irish pubs. No wonder: after all, there are many Irish people living in New York who love authentic food!

    My tip: Check out my article with the best Irish Restaurants in NYC!

  7. 07

    Enjoy a glass of Irish whiskey

    Bar in Tribeca
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    I love whiskey and not only on St. Patricks Day New York City has a lot of really good whiskey bars to offer. Here you can find the best whiskey bars in NYC for me, especially the Brandy Library is amazing (don’t let the name mislead you, they have almost 1,000 different kinds of whiskey).

  8. 08

    Visit the amazing St. Patrick's Cathedral

    Building in Midtown Manhattan
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    In the middle of Midtown, opposite Rockefeller Center, is the largest neo-Gothic style cathedral in the United States: St. Patrick’s Cathedral New York City is the most breathtaking ecclesiastical building in New York. The slender towers rise almost majestically to a height of over 100 metres.

  9. 09

    40 Shades of Green: 6 Hours of Performances!

    Other Events in Long Island City
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    In celebration of St. Patrick’s Day, the annual “40 Shades of Green” cultural festival will be held at the New York Irish Center on March 17, 2023. This event will feature a six-hour program of entertainment from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. by both local and international artists. The performances are, of course, all dedicated to the Irish holiday.

  10. 10

    Join a Pub Crawl on St. Patrick’s Day

    Bar in East Village
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    This is probably one of the most fun activities in New York City for adults you can do. For a set fee, you and others will be able to bar-hop and get full access to drinks. This goes on throughout the day and it’s a great way to meet new people or even just spend time with friends.

    These are the best pub crawls in NYC on St. Patrick’s Day 👇

  11. 11

    Educate yourself on some Irish-American History and Culture

    Museum in Lower East Side
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    We recommend visiting the Tenement Museum located on the Lower East Side. It’s a great way to get an idea of what is being celebrated during St. Patrick’s Day in NYC. Here you can learn the many hardships and prejudices that Irish families faced in the US in the late 1860s.

    My tip: The Tenement Museum is part of our list of the best museums in NYC.

  12. 12

    Choose a hotel from which you can see the St. Patrick's Day parade!

    Hotels & Accommodations in Upper East Side
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    Are you looking for hotel rooms with view of St. Patrick’s Day Parade? Then you don’t have to look any further! I’ll show you the Best Hotels to Watch St. Patrick’s Day Parade from.

  13. 13

    Keep an eye on the Empire State Building

    Building in Midtown Manhattan
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    The Empire State Building is known to change colors based on current events and holidays. St. Patricks Day in NYC is no different. The top of the skyscraper will turn green in honor of the Irish Holiday.

  14. 14

    Join the I'm Feelin' Lucky St Patrick's Day Party Cruise

    Other Events in Kips Bay
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    Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day aboard the 2-story Avalon Yacht and enjoy breathtaking views of the NYC skyline during the sunset hours. Mark the beginning of the Spring season with this festive occasion. I’m Feeling’ Lucky St Patrick’s Day Cruise offers a delicious à la carte menu including Shepherd’s Pie, Roast Beef Sandwiches, Mac and Cheese and much more.

    Get your tickets now to celebrate St. Patrick’s day on a cruise!

More St. Patrick’s Day Articles

Profilbild Steffen Kneist
About the author

I'm a true New York fan! Not only have I visited the city over 20 times but also have I spent several months here at a time. On my blog I show you the best and most beautiful spots of the city, so that you have a really good time! You can also find lots of insider tips in our New York travel guide. Also check out my hotel finder for New York!

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2 Comments

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anji tay

Hi
I m visiting New York 15 March to 21 March I ve been reading your articles and find them very useful.
However the article headed “What is the St. Patrick’s Day Parade route and when is it?” states St Patricks day 2020 is 17 March and its a Saturday ? That date is actually Tuesday Do you mean the parade is on Saturday ? If so what date is the parade ?

Nicole Long

I too have been asking the same question. We want to plan our trip so we can go to the parade but articles that I have been reading say the parade is on Sat the 17 which is actually Tuesday.

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