Mar 11, 2021

St. Patrick’s Day: Celebrations and Fun Activities in New Orleans

The day to officially celebrate St. Patrick’s Day every year is March 17th. When you are in New Orleans, you can find the festivity for more than a week! The multi-week celebration with Irish dishes, block parties, and parades can engage both natives and foreigners.

New Orleans has already embraced the Spanish and French culture. However, how, and why do they celebrate the Irish culture, St. Patrick’s Day?

While looking back to the 17th century, you can find that the USA received lots of Irish immigrants who searched for a better lifestyle. Some of them also settled in South Louisiana. The Irish laborers created the New Basin Canal to connect Lake Pontchartrain with Uptown. However, yellow fever caused the death of several workers. Some lucky workers who survived their lives worked at the Port of New Orleans. That is why New Orleans gives value to the Irish heritage, culture, and history.

Different ways how New Orleans celebrate St. Patrick’s Day:

Parade to Irish Channel:

The most popular way of making the annual celebration of St. Patrick’s Day is to start a Marching Club parade at 1:30 P.M. This parade takes place along Magazine Street and the Irish Channel. It is an all-male member parade where men in New Orleans put on formal attire and go to St. Mary’s Assumption Church.

It is one of the biggest street parades with trinkets, beads, flowers, and marching bands. Some participants also take green beer and whiskey with them. The bars present in the parade route also provide special drinks.

It is really a unique celebration, as you can find heads of cabbage, potatoes, carrots, and onions, flying. Marchers also hand out paper flowers while they kiss each other.

Finn McCool’s- One of the Best Destinations for Americans in New Orleans:

Finn McCool’s located in Mid-City is one of the prominent Irish pubs where you can find loyal and friendly staff. The spacious bar with low-priced drinks and televisions develops a sense of charity and community. It has taken the responsibility of hosting the St. Baldrick’s Day fundraiser to raise funds for cancer patients.

Downtown Irish Club Parade:

Lots of natives in New Orleans take part in this parade that starts at 6 PM. They begin the parade in Bywater and the carnival ends at Bourbon Street. Marchers also stop at different sites along the parade route. Thus, New Orleans likes to create parade schedules, as they take this celebration seriously.

Parties to enjoy St. Patrick’s Day

The Saturday that comes before St. Patrick’s Day is the day to have / go to parties in New Orleans. The Parasol’s Block Party with green beer and Irish themed beverages can amaze you. You can find the block party near Race streets and Chippewa. Wine and beer, art-and-craft booths, local foods, Irish dancers, and music- everything creates a festive atmosphere.