St. Patrick's Day Parades in Minneapolis and St. Paul

This year, St. Patrick's Day is on a Tuesday. In Ireland, March 17 is a national holiday, but most of us here in the US have to work on St. Paddy's day. Nevertheless, the St. Paul St. Patrick's Association holds their annual parade at noon on St. Patrick's day in downtown St. Paul, and there's usually a great turnout to watch the marchers.

And for everyone who has a day job, there is a second parade on Nicollet Mall in downtown Minneapolis at 6.30 p.m. with more floats, marchers and music.

As well as the two major St. Patrick's Day parades in Minneapolis and St. Paul, here's some other St. Patrick's Day parades.

O'Gara's bar in St. Paul will have their 18th Annual World's Shortest St. Patrick's Day Parade, through the bar, restaurant and O'Gara's Garage. The parade is led by an Irish Pipe band, there are free parade buttons, and plenty of other Irish entertainment all day. The World's Shortest St. Patrick's Day parade commences at 3 p.m. at O'Gara's.

And over the state line, New London, Wisconsin, has a whole week of Irish festivities and Wisconsin's largest St. Patrick's Day parade. Did I say New London? The town is renamed New Dublin for the week. A mere four hour drive from the Twin Cities, this would be a fun road trip for anyone for whom a one-day St. Patrick's day party isn't long enough. Slainte!