Top Five St. Patrick's Day Parades in US: Rain to Hit NYC, Cold in Boston

By Mark Leberfinger, AccuWeather.com Staff Writer

March 13,2015; 10:49PM,EDT

 

 

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It's that time of year again for the wearing of the green and honoring the memory of Saint Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland.
Millions of Irish and Irish-at-heart will gather for St. Patrick's Day celebrations across the United States.
Here are five of the largest and oldest St. Patrick's Day celebrations across the country, picked with the aid of eventcrazy.
Parade-goers will need to have an umbrella and other rain gear handy for some of the largest parades, AccuWeather.com Meteorologist Mike Doll said. There may be periods of rain for the biggest U.S. parade which takes place in New York City on Tuesday.
The County Tyrone Pipe Band marches in the St. Patrick's Day parade, Monday, March 17, 2014, in New York. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)
New York City
New York City hosts the nation's oldest parade, dating back to 1762 before the nation's founding. The parade starts at 11 a.m. EDT on Tuesday, March 17. Up to 250,000 marchers participate each year before 1 million spectators.
Rain showers are possible in New York City with a high near 50 F on Tuesday. Rain gear will be a necessity for parade-goers.
Boston
The South Boston St. Patrick's Day Parade has been in existence since 1901, which was the 125th anniversary of the British evacuation of Boston during the Revolutionary War. The parade is billed as the second largest in the U.S. in terms of spectators. The parade is viewed by up to 1 million people, in addition to those watching on television. Despite a long winter for Bostonians, marchers step off at 1 p.m. EDT on Sunday, March 15.
AccuWeather RealFeel® temperatures will be in the 20s in Boston on Sunday, and the brisk winds will cause loose objects to blow around, Doll said. There is a chance of rain or snow showers for the parade.
Marin Marx, of Paris, dances in the street during the annual St. Patrick's Day parade in the South Boston neighborhood of Boston, Sunday, March 16, 2014. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)
Savannah, Georgia
The 191th St. Patrick's Day Parade steps out at 10:15 a.m. EDT on Tuesday, March 17, 2015, in Georgia's oldest city. The Hibernian Society of Savannah held the first parade on March 17, 1813. Ahead of this year's parade, there will be a St. Patrick's Mass, also on Tuesday.
Parade-goers will be see a mix of sun and clouds with a high in the low 80s on Tuesday.
Carolyn Geis, left, kisses Irish Air Corps Pipe and Drum member, Terry Healy, on the cheek during Savannah, Georgia's 190-year-old St. Patrick's Day parade on Monday, March 17, 2014. Kissing men in uniform is a tradition during the celebration in Georgia's oldest city. (AP Photo/Stephen B. Morton)
Chicago
The dyeing of the Chicago River is always a highlight of the St. Patrick's Day Parade festivities. The parade is always held on a Saturday, with this year's parade held at noon CDT on Saturday, March 14.
Sun and clouds will greet Chicago parade-goers on Saturday, Doll said. The parade temperature will be in the low 50s but there will be a gusty breeze up to 25 mph.
Kayakers float on the Chicago River after it was dyed green ahead of the St. Patrick's Day parade in Chicago, Saturday, March 15, 2014. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty)
Scranton, Pennsylvania
Scranton, Pennsylvania, holds the second largest parade in the country as far as the number of participants go, according to the parade's website. This year's parade kicks off at 11:45 a.m. EDT on Saturday, March 14.
There will be rain showers around in Scranton, Doll said. The parade temperature will be in the mid-40s.
In Scranton, Pa., St. Patrick's Day parade-goers gather in green on Saturday, March 9, 2013. (Photo/Kristen Connolly)