Rochester Voice 12:46 p.m.
Saturday, March 15, 2025 12:46 pm

With St. Patrick's Day around the corner and at least $7 billion expected to be spent for the holiday this year, the personal-finance website WalletHub today released its report on 2025's Best Cities for St. Patrick's Day Celebrations, as well as expert commentary.

To determine the best cities for celebrating Irish-American heritage, WalletHub compared 200 of the largest U.S. cities across 15 key metrics, ranging from Irish pubs and restaurants per capita to the lowest price for a three-star hotel on St. Patrick's Day to the weather forecast.

Best vs. Worst

• Naperville, Illinois, has the highest share of Irish population, which is 48.3 times greater than in Hialeah, Florida, the city with the lowest.
  
• New York has the highest number of Irish pubs per capita, which is 34.8 times more than in San Jose, California, the city with the lowest.
  
• Milwaukee, Wisconsin, has the lowest average beer price, which is 1.5 times less expensive than in Anchorage, Alaska, the city with the highest.
  
• Naperville, Illinois, has the lowest violent-crime rate, which is 56.9 times lower than in Oakland, California, the city with the highest.
  
• New York has one of the lowest number of DUI-related fatalities per capita, which is 32.1 times less than in Salem, Oregon, the city with the highest.

"St. Patrick's Day celebrates the Irish, but it's become a beloved cultural holiday for millions of Americans regardless of their ancestry. The best cities for St. Patrick's Day combine rich traditions with tasty and affordable food, safe conditions to celebrate, and good weather. Celebrating in one of these cities will increase your chances of having a memorable holiday, as long as you don't overdo it."
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"Boston is the best city for celebrating St. Patrick's Day, and it's known for its iconic parade, which has been around since 1724. Over 13% of the city's residents have Irish roots, and Boston has the sixth-most Irish pubs and sixth-most Irish restaurants per capita."

- Chip Lupo, WalletHub Analyst


Expert Commentary

Why is St. Patrick's Day so popular in the United States?

"People who can claim Irish descent account for about 10% of the US population, the third most common of the European ancestry groups (although German is still number one). There are more people of Irish descent in the diaspora worldwide than in Ireland, and unlike German heritage, which carries the weight of two World Wars, Irish ancestry is the least politically compromised ethnic identity to claim as a connection for many people in the US. English is spoken across the island, which is part of the reason Ireland has always been one of the top destinations for American tourists traveling to Europe. Genealogical databases like Ancestry.com have made it easy for people to connect with this heritage and many people make numerous repeat journeys to Ireland as a result. The art, myths and legends of Ireland have made their way into American folklore and many people who are not of Irish descent still feel an affinity with the culture as a result. A good indicator of this sense of cultural connection is the prevalence of tattoos with obvious origins in Irish or Celtic artistic traditions."
Bettina Arnold - Professor, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

"There's a long tradition of St. Patrick's Day celebrations in the United States. The earliest one was in Boston in 1737, it was organized by Presbyterian immigrants from the north of Ireland. Later in the 18th century Irish born soldiers who served in the British army organized a St. Patrick's Day parade in New York. But the holiday began to become more prevalent from the mid-19th century. The Irish Famine meant that large numbers of Irish people immigrated to major American cities. The increasing number of Americans born in Ireland or with Irish ancestry contributed to the growth of the holiday. As this happened Irish American communities developed distinctive ways to celebrate St. Patrick's Day. Originally in Ireland St Patrick's Day was celebrated as a holy day, it celebrated the Christianization of Ireland. So, it was more of a solemn religious holiday and not a party. But Irish American communities from the late 19th century onwards have used the holiday as a celebration of their national identity. Irish immigrants to the US faced a difficult experience in that period, they were widely discriminated against because of their ethnicity and religion. St. Patrick's Day became an opportunity for them to celebrate their origins and their hard-won successes in America. It has since evolved into a broad celebration of Irish identity."
Karen Sonnelitter, Ph.D. - Professor of History, Department Chair - Siena College


What are some social and economic considerations for cities looking to host St. Patrick's Day celebrations?

"Any public event that involves large numbers of people in confined spaces as well as the consumption of significant quantities of alcohol requires a substantial amount of organizational expertise, planning and attention to security. The security arrangements in particular will account for most of the cost of such an event and the infrastructure needs to be able to handle the strain as well. Cities with a long tradition of St Patrick's Day celebrations will be better positioned to deal with this than those who may be new to the party."
Bettina Arnold - Professor, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

"The first thing to consider is whether there is a community desire. Does the city have a large population of people with Irish ancestry? Is there a vibrant Irish-American community? The other considerations would be cost."
Karen Sonnelitter, Ph.D. - Professor of History, Department Chair - Siena College


How can local authorities promote safety and reduce alcohol-related accidents on St. Patrick's Day?

"Local authorities in the United States can promote safety and reduce alcohol-related accidents on St. Patrick Day by setting up checkpoints to identify drivers who are a danger to themselves and others, by recommending the use of designated drivers for groups who are pulling out all the stops and partying hardy, and by sponsoring community alternate activities and events on the day that do not include the consumption of alcohol."
James Farrelly - Professor, University of Dayton

"At the top of the list is providing safe and ideally free transportation to and from bars and venues where alcohol is consumed. Security arrangements, including a larger than usual police presence, in areas where bars are concentrated, is another important factor. Hospitals and emergency services all need to be on alert for the possibility of a spike in injuries and accidents during the event. Being proactive is the key to ensuring the celebrations are safe and fun for everyone."
Bettina Arnold - Professor, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee