Bagpipers in Dublin St. Patrick's Day Parade (courtesy of Visit Dublin Ohio)
Travel

7 St. Patrick’s Day Celebrations in Ohio

Put on your green and get ready to experience a taste of the Emerald Isle in the Buckeye State with these parades and celebrations sure to help you feel the luck of the Irish. 

Irish or not, we’ve all felt a little extra St. Patrick’s Day luck in our lives. The holiday has us ready to don our green and start looking for a local haunt to grab some authentic Irish fare and a perfect pour of Guinness. Luckily, there are plenty of communities throughout the state hosting celebrations, parades and festivals to celebrate this favorite spring holiday.

St. Patrick's Day Weekend Celebration (courtesy of Youngstown Mahoning County)
St. Patrick's Day Weekend Celebration in Youngstown | March 14-17
Penguin City Brewing Co. in Youngstown is packed with community spirit year-round, but for St. Patrick’s Day it plays host to four days full of fun. Those who visit during the Friday-through-Monday celebration will be treated to live music, great food trucks, Irish-themed activities and, of course, cold beer on tap.

Cincinnati St. Patrick's Day Parade (photo by Jen Williams)
Cincinnati St. Patrick’s Day Parade | March 15
Residents from both Cincinnati and northern Kentucky gather for this annual parade, which steps off near the Cincinnati Bengals’ Paycor Stadium at noon the Saturday prior to St. Patrick’s Day. Since 1967, this festive parade has marched through the city to celebrate the holiday and includes bagpipers, marching bands and dancers. 

Dublin St. Patrick's Day Parade (courtesy of Visit Dublin Ohio)
Dublin St. Patrick's Day | March 15 
The Columbus suburb of Dublin hosts a full slate of Irish fun the Saturday before St. Patrick’s Day. Start the day at Sells Middle School with an all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast before grabbing a seat for the St. Patrick’s Day parade through historic Dublin. Throughout the day, visit bars and restaurants as part of the Shamrock Shuffle to be entered into a drawing for the Pot O’ Gold Grand Prize Package.

Lima Irish Parade | March 15 
Visit downtown Lima for this annual parade in celebration of St. Paddy’s Day. Stepping off at noon near St. Gerard’s Catholic Church, the parade travels down Main Street to the town square, and features several community groups and members, including this year’s grand marshal, Patricia Anne “Cissy” Doyle Saine.

St. Patrick's Day Parade (Courtesy of Portsmouth and Scioto County)
St. Patrick's Day Parade in Portsmouth | March 15
Since 2007, the city of Portsmouth has celebrated St. Patrick’s Day with plenty of Irish flair. Enjoy a parade along Chillicothe Street in downtown Portsmouth that features bagpipers and dancers for entertainment, as well as plenty of candy (and potatoes) to go around.

Cleveland's St. Patrick's Day Parade (courtesy of event)
Cleveland’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade | March 17
This annual parade is put on each year by the United Irish Societies of Greater Cleveland and is made up of around 10,000 participants. Stepping off at 1:04 p.m. at E. 18th Street and Superior Avenue in downtown Cleveland, this parade features local organizations walking along the route as well as floats, marching bands and dressed-up dogs. 

Leprechaun Byrne (courtesy of Shamrock Club of Columbus)
Columbus St. Patrick's Day Parade | March 17 
Spend the morning of St. Patrick’s Day in downtown Columbus for a Mass and parade, put on by the Shamrock Club of Columbus. The festivities begin at St. Patrick’s Church at 9 a.m. with a processional to the building and Mass to follow. Right after Mass, the parade steps off at 11 a.m. with bagpipers, flag carriers, floats and more. Those who are in town the weekend before the holiday can enjoy the St. Patrick's Day Preview Party featuring live music. 

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