6 Saint Patrick’s Day Celebrations in Ohio

Irish or not, we’ve all felt a little extra Saint 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.

GOTL Saint Patrick’s Day Weekend| March 13-15
Enjoy a weekend in Geneva-on-the-Lake with plenty of Saint Patrick’s Day-themed events for the whole family. Attendees traverse the Lucky Charms Trail, starting by purchasing a charm bracelet at the GOTL Welcome Center and then visiting participating locations to collect additional charms. For the 21-and-over crowd, a festive bar crawl offers the chance to visit various stops across Geneva on the Lake, gathering stamps to trade in for a commemorative pint glass. The weekend concludes with the Leprechaun Run, which offers a competitive 5K race or a leisurely 1-mile jaunt.

Cincinnati Saint Patrick’s Day Parade | March 14
Residents from both Cincinnati and northern Kentucky gather for this annual parade, which steps off near the Cincinnati Bengals’ Paycor Stadium just before noon the Saturday prior to Saint 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 Saint Patrick's Day | March 14
The Columbus suburb of Dublin hosts a full slate of Irish fun the Saturday before Saint Patrick’s Day. Festivities begin at 7 a.m. at the Sells Middle School with an all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast and continue to 11 a.m., when the Saint Patrick’s Day parade begins marching through historic Dublin. Throughout the day, attendees can visit bars and restaurants across historic Dublin and Bridge Park as part of the Shamrock Shuffle to be entered into a drawing for the Pot O’ Gold Grand Prize Package.

Saint Patrick's Day Parade in Portsmouth | March 14
Since 2007, the city of Portsmouth has celebrated Saint Patrick’s Day with plenty of Irish flair. Hosted by the 7 Nations Celtic Club of Southern Ohio, the parade features traditional Irish instruments, such as bagpipes, and sees marchers tossing potatoes and candy to bystanders in the crowd.

Cleveland’s Saint 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. Kicking off around 1 p.m. at East 18th Street and Superior Avenue in downtown Cleveland, this parade features local organizations walking along the route, as well as floats, marching bands and plenty of Irish cheer.

Columbus Saint Patrick's Day Parade | March 17
Celebrate Irish spirit in Columbus during this single-day event that features a parade of bagpipers, flag carriers, costumed marchers, floats and more making its way from West Broad and McDowell streets to the Greater Columbus Convention Center. Following the parade, the Shamrock Club of Columbus opens up for Irish music, dancers and even more celebration.

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