BALTIMORE

For those who want to work up a good thirst before festivities begin, the city also hosts the Shamrock 5K foot race, which starts forty-five minutes before its long-running parade.

KANSAS CITY

This parade actually started as a gimmick. The inaugural parade in 1974 was advertised as the "world's shortest and worst parade" by Daniel Thomas Hogerty to attract people to his tavern.

DENVER

In addition to dogs and horses, Denver's parade also includes llamas, alpacas and 20 longhorn cattle.

ATLANTA

Fado Irish Pub & Restaurant, the only pub in Atlanta that was custom built in Dublin and imported into the States piece by piece, kicks off their St. Patrick's Day party at 7am with "Kegs & Eggs."

BOSTON

1.5 million, or 24% of Massachusetts citizens, claim Irish ancestry. And Boston has the longest running Saint Patrick's Day parade, held since 1737.

NEW YORK

Politicians (or those with political aspirations) are known to make appearances at this parade, the largest in the country. Former New York City Mayor Ed Koch once proclaimed himself "Ed O'Koch" for the day.

NEW ORLEANS

Perhaps inspired by doubloon-tossing at Mardi Gras, cabbages and potatoes are thrown at this festive (and messy) parade.

CHICAGO

It takes 40 pounds of dye (which turns the river orange before it changes to green) to color the Chicago River for four or five hours.