Unusual St. Patrick’s Day Destinations

St. Patrick’s Day is coming up fast, and to celebrate, here’s a look at some lesser known holiday destinations. You won’t find Dublin, Chicago, or Boston on this list. Nope. Instead, we’re talking about the intersection between volcanoes and shamrocks, Bo Derek, and Ireland in Japan.

Hot Springs, Arkansas: If, when you think of St. Patrick’s Day, Bo Derek immediately springs to mind, then book a trip to Hot Spring, Arkansas, immediately. That’s because she will be the grand marshal at this year’s First Ever Seventh Annual World’s Shortest St. Patrick’s Day Parade. This quirky parade will feature Irish belly dancers, Irish Elvis impersonators, Irish Wolfhounds, and green fireworks, and includes a pub crawl.

Good for: Travelers looking for a fun and unusual way to celebrate.

Japan: Tokyo got its big St. Patrick’s Day bash in early this year by celebrating its 19^th St. Patrick’s Day Parade on March 14. The event was organized by Irish Network Japan (INJ), an organization dedicated to bringing “a little part of Ireland to Japan.” Tokyo isn’t the only city to get in on the festivities: there are also upcoming parades in Tsukuba and Yokohama.

Good for: Travelers and expats in need of a jig and a pint.

Montserrat: Discovering that St. Patrick’s is celebrated by a week of celebration and a national holiday was the inspiration for this blog post. The same Caribbean destination known for its very active volcano (the dangerous parts of the island are uninhabited these days) was settled by the Irish, and boasts Irish stew as its national dish and a green shamrock as its passport stamp. Festivities include music, lectures, a kite festival, and feasts.

Good for: People looking for a little St. Patrick’s Day sunshine.

What are your favorite places to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day?