Between the pub crawls, parades and river dyeing, nobody does St. Patrick’s Day better than Chicago.
Though Boston, Philadelphia and New York have respectable celebrations, the Windy City came out on top of the best cities in the country to spend March 17, according to WalletHub.
To rank the festivities of 200 U.S. cities, WalletHub reviewed each one’s St. Patrick’s Day traditions, safety, accessibility, cost and weather. Things like Irish population size, parties and festivals per capita, cost of beer, crime rate and walkability were all taken into consideration.
Chicago, Philadelphia, Madison, Boston and Tampa were deemed the top five cities to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, WalletHub said.
With 55 percent of Americans planning on celebrating this year, WalletHub estimates that revelers will spend $5.6 billion on the holiday.
For those celebrating here, the Chicago River will be dyed green at 9 a.m. Saturday near Michigan Avenue and Columbus Drive, and the parade will step off at noon at Balbo and Columbus drives.
The South Side Irish Parade gets underway at noon Sunday from 103rd Street and Western Avenue and will travel down Western to 115th Street.
Stacey Peterson and Kevin McGuire take a selfie with the green Chicago River to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, Saturday, March 17th, 2018. | James Foster/For the Sun-Times
The Plumber’s Local Union 130 dyes the Chicago River green to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, Saturday, March 17th, 2018. | James Foster/For the Sun-Times
Yvonne Coviello and Lisa Chirico come out to see the Plumber’s Local Union 130 dye the Chicago River green in celebration of St. Patrick’s Day, Saturday, March 17th, 2018. | James Foster/For the Sun-Times
The Plumber’s Local Union 130 dyes the Chicago River green to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, Saturday, March 17th, 2018. | James Foster/For the Sun-Times
The crowd celebrates as the Plumber’s Local Union 130 dyes the Chicago River green to honor St. Patrick’s Day, Saturday, March 17th, 2018. | James Foster/For the Sun-Times
The Plumber’s Local Union 130 dyes the Chicago River green to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, Saturday, March 17th, 2018. | James Foster/For the Sun-Times
The crowd celebrates as the Plumber’s Local Union 130 dyes the Chicago River green to honor St. Patrick’s Day, Saturday, March 17th, 2018. | James Foster/For the Sun-Times
Otis and Pauline Day come out to see the Plumber’s Local Union 130 dye the Chicago River green in celebration of St. Patrick’s Day, Saturday, March 17th, 2018. | James Foster/For the Sun-Times
The Plumber’s Local Union 130 dyes the Chicago River green to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, Saturday, March 17th, 2018. | James Foster/For the Sun-Times
Costumed revelers come out to see the Plumber’s Local Union 130 dye the Chicago River green in celebration of St. Patrick’s Day, Saturday, March 17th, 2018. | James Foster/For the Sun-Times
The 2018 Chicago St. Patrick’s Day Parade, Saturday, March 17th, 2018. | James Foster/For the Sun-Times
The 2018 Chicago St. Patrick’s Day Parade, Saturday, March 17th, 2018. | James Foster/For the Sun-Times
The 2018 Chicago St. Patrick’s Day Parade, Saturday, March 17th, 2018. | James Foster/For the Sun-Times
The Shannon Rovers at the 2018 Chicago St. Patrick’s Day Parade, Saturday, March 17th, 2018. | James Foster/For the Sun-Times
Governor Bruce Rauner at the 2018 Chicago St. Patrick’s Day Parade, Saturday, March 17th, 2018. | James Foster/For the Sun-Times
The 2018 Chicago St. Patrick’s Day Parade, Saturday, March 17th, 2018. | James Foster/For the Sun-Times
The Shannon Rovers at the 2018 Chicago St. Patrick’s Day Parade, Saturday, March 17th, 2018. | James Foster/For the Sun-Times
The 2018 Chicago St. Patrick’s Day Parade, Saturday, March 17th, 2018. | James Foster/For the Sun-Times
Dan Biss at the 2018 Chicago St. Patrick’s Day Parade, Saturday, March 17th, 2018. | James Foster/For the Sun-Times
The ComEd float in the 2018 Chicago St. Patrick’s Day Parade, Saturday, March 17th, 2018. | James Foster/For the Sun-Times
The Emerald Society in the 2018 Chicago St. Patrick’s Day Parade, Saturday, March 17th, 2018. | James Foster/For the Sun-Times
The Trinity Irish Dance School in the 2018 Chicago St. Patrick’s Day Parade, Saturday, March 17th, 2018. | James Foster/For the Sun-Times
Marchers take part in the Clear Ridge Social Athletic Club Archer Avenue St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Garfield Ridge | Provided photo
Marchers take part in the Clear Ridge Social Athletic Club Archer Avenue St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Garfield Ridge | Provided photo
Marchers take part in the Clear Ridge Social Athletic Club Archer Avenue St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Garfield Ridge | Provided photo
Marchers take part in the Clear Ridge Social Athletic Club Archer Avenue St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Garfield Ridge | Provided photo
RELATED
• Metra to run extra trains for weekend St. Patrick’s Day events
• Aldi stores to have green and alcohol-infused cheese for St. Patrick’s Day
