St. Patrick’s Day

In Cleveland, St. Patrick's Day is everywhere. Downtown? Packed. Neighborhood Irish pubs? Packed. That little Mexican joint down the street? Everyone's dressed as leprechauns. Your parents' attic? Dad's looking for his green sweatshirt (and Dad's German-Italian).

It's not an understatement to say that Clevelanders love — make that LOVE — St. Patrick's Day.

On one hand, it makes sense because a large number of Clevelanders are at least partly Irish. On the other hand, everyone else likes to pretend they are. Either way, St. Patrick's Day in Cleveland might produce the single most potent beer contact buzz of the year.

What to Do There:

• The thing about St. Paddy's day is that there is no single "there." To see the real action, though, head Downtown for the parade, which runs down Superior Avenue from East 18^th Street to right around East 3^rd Street. With more than 10,000 participants and nearly 500,000 visitors (!) Cleveland puts on one of the largest St. Paddy's Day parades in the country.
• Our advice for most Cleveland events and attractions typically includes some variation of "be ready to drink." We really mean it this time. If you're Downtown, a number of bars and restaurants open their doors to parade-goers early and get things started with that breakfast of Irish-for-a-day champions, kegs and eggs. Someone will inevitably say "top o' the mornin' to ya" ... and there's an extremely good chance it will be you. Or that guy (you know that guy). The bars stay open throughout the parade and are usually packed to the gills with revelers for most of the day.

What Else To Do:

• If you decide not to go to the parade, never fear, there is plenty else going on. The west-side neighborhood of Kamm's Corners, known for its large Irish-American population, puts on one of the biggest non-Downtown parties in the city. If you're not going to the parade, you'll want to belly up early to one of the many Irish pubs that dot the neighborhood. Once the parade lets out and the rideshare surge fees are paid, these places fill up fast.
• If you miss the parade and don't want to brave the Irish neighborhoods, just find a bar. Any bar. Every bar. Your server will be wearing shamrock sunglasses and there will be Guinness and Jameson. Promise.

Tips For Attending:

• Be ready for large crowds. We're not talking shoulder-to-shoulder, though. St. Patrick's Day crowds in Cleveland are of the "this-guy's-beard-is-scratching-my-ear-but-I-don't-see-any-way-around-it" variety. You can try to maintain a wide stance and create space for yourself ... but why fight it?
• Don't drive because you're probably going to be drinking. Cabs. Ride sharing. A new pair of walking shoes. All are necessary investments today.

Where to Stay:

The minute you set foot in The Land, there’s so much to do it might be hard to figure out where to start. Whether you’re making a pilgrimage to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, enjoying a culinary revelation from one of our world-class dining establishments, catching a Browns Game at FirstEnergy Stadium or just enjoying a couple of green beers on this holiest of Irish holy days, it’s all accessible from Downtown Cleveland.