St patricks Day - NYC or Boston
 

I have to decide between the two cities. Which one is the better? I have spent 3 months in NYC on a work assignment and know someone on work assignment in Boston. But do the 2 Cities only have the parades? I hear both cities are a good time, so I was hoping that one of them does something else besides the parade to help me decide.

Boston parade is Sunday 3/18 in South Boston - which is part of Boston but not in the usual touristy area. A number of Irish bars do some sort of celebration and the city workers get a work day off with some bogus holiday called "Evacuation Day" but really just an excuse to have 3/17 off. Don't know what happens to holiday this year.

But even if it falls on a work day, life goes on as usual except for lots of people wearing hideous green outfits.

Since you have been in NYC for 3 months, unless you have visited Boston much, I would take the weekend and make the trip to Boston (but I am very biased as I live here)

My son who goes to school in Savannah insists Savannah is the place to be on 3/17

I'm a Southie girl and have been to perhaps 25 parades since birth. "Evacuation Day" celebrates George Washington's successful battle to drive the British fleet from Boston Harbor after having dragged cannons from New Jersey to the bluff on Dorchester Heights (actually in South Boston) and letting it rip! There is a white tower to commemorate the spot.

Now the fact that this holiday happens to fall near March 17th might seem a little suspect, but I'm sure all the green-clad revelers reflect long and hard on the sacrifices made by the soldiers securing America's freedom. I'm sure.

I have also attended the parade in New York and it is much longer and more professional than Boston's. Despite my roots, I would have to recommend New York City as the place to be on SPD. The South Boston bars are generally not very genteel and will be filled to the brim with inebriated young men. Not to say that NYC won't have the same, but there are so many choices that you can find someplace that's to your liking. It is also hard to get in and out of Southie on SPD - limited bus service or a long walk from a T stop - don't even think of driving in!

OK, now don't tell anyone in the 'hood that I told you to go to NY. That's a hangin' offense back where I come from!

have to agree with tekwriter. I go the South Boston parade every year but it seems to me that its best enjoyed with a large crowd of family and friends of which at least one has a house on the parade route.

NY also attracts the largest, best, most popular Irish music acts on St. Patricks Day - Boston usually gets them a few day early. If you are looking for good music see where the Chieftians, Pogues, Saw Doctors, Irish Tenors, or Solas are playing. Prodigals are very good too.

New York City wins best St.Patrick's day celebrations/parade ever!! I went about 25 years ago and it was a blast!!

New York. Has by far the largest St Pat's parade - over a million marchers with at least as many watchers (many more if the weather is good.)

But don;t expect a fancy formal parade with floats etc. This is just people - groups of people - of every ilk - from schools, organizations, police and fire departments interspersed with innumerable bands, drum and bugle corps and pipers. Oh- and every politician within a hundred miles. They even paint the center line on Fifth Avenue green for the day.

And realize that on that day everyone in New York is Irish and every bar or pub sells green beer, LOTS of green beer. Also green bagels, green dogs, I've even seen green fur coats on cold days.

The official grandstand is right by St Pat's Cathedral so you won;t be able to get near there - try for 4/5 blocks north to still get a lot of music. And be ready to get to the parade route early.

Lived on the South Boston parade route which meant manditory parties, some that I prepared for and couldn't attend.

I too say NYC! For instance, Celtic Woman playing in Boston tomorrow, and playing Radio City Music Hall on St P Day.

Betcha would never guess this one! Savannah, GA has the second largest St Pat's parade in US. Nice place to visit and nice time of year to go.

Keep in mind, St Pat's is a Saturday this year so there will be many more people at the parade/festivities than usual. Get there early.