St Patrick’s Day 2027 falls on Wednesday, March 17, 2027. It is always March 17 — the date never moves, only the weekday changes — and in 2027 it lands midweek, which means the biggest American parades will mostly stay on the day itself, while a few cities shift their celebrations to the nearest weekend.
What began as a quiet Christian feast day in honour of Ireland’s patron saint has become one of the world’s most widely celebrated national days. Parades fill Fifth Avenue in New York, the Chicago River turns green, and millions of Americans who have never set foot in Ireland wear green, eat soda bread and raise a glass to the Emerald Isle. This guide covers the date, the real story of St Patrick, why green replaced blue, the symbols people get wrong, the major US parades for 2027, and practical ways to celebrate at home.
St Patrick’s Day 2027 at a glance
| Date | Wednesday, March 17, 2027 |
| Observed | Every year on March 17 (fixed date) |
| What it is | Feast day of St Patrick, patron saint of Ireland; a celebration of Irish culture and heritage |
| US federal holiday? | No — federal offices, banks, USPS and stock markets run on normal schedules |
| Public holiday in Ireland? | Yes — a national public holiday in the Republic of Ireland and a bank holiday in Northern Ireland |
| US month | March is Irish-American Heritage Month in the United States |
| Biggest US parade | New York City, Fifth Avenue, March 17 |
Who was St Patrick?
The man behind the day was not Irish at all. Patrick was born in Roman Britain in the late fourth century — tradition gives his birth name as Maewyn Succat — the son of a deacon and the grandson of a priest. At about sixteen he was seized by Irish raiders, carried across the sea and sold into slavery in Ireland, where he spent roughly six years tending sheep.
He escaped, returned to Britain, and later went back to Ireland as a missionary bishop. Almost everything we know about him first-hand comes from his own short Latin memoir, the Confessio, and a letter he wrote to a British chieftain named Coroticus. Those two documents are the only writings that survive from Patrick himself.
March 17 is traditionally held to be the date of his death, in the fifth century (often given as around 461), and saints’ feast days are kept on the anniversary of their death. That is why the day is fixed to March 17 rather than to a weekday or a season.
From feast day to global festival: a short timeline
- 1601 — The first recorded parade in honour of St Patrick is held on March 17 in St Augustine, Florida, then a Spanish colony.
- 1631 — The Catholic Church formally recognises March 17 as a feast day for St Patrick.
- 1737 — Irish soldiers serving in the British military march in Boston and New York, an early seed of the American parade tradition.
- 1762 — The first St Patrick’s Day parade in New York City is held; it is now one of the oldest and largest civic parades in the world.
- 1798 — During the Irish Rebellion, green becomes the colour of Irish identity — before that, St Patrick was associated with blue.
- 1800s — More than a million Irish men, women and children arrive in America through Ellis Island. Facing poverty and prejudice, they rally around March 17, and parades become a proud public statement of Irish-American identity.
- 1903 — St Patrick’s Day becomes a public holiday in Ireland under the Bank Holiday (Ireland) Act.
- 1930s — Parades finally begin in Ireland itself; until then the day was marked mainly in church.
- 1962 — Chicago dyes its river green for the first time, a tradition that continues every year.
- 1990s onward — Ireland’s government turns the day into a national festival, and Tourism Ireland’s Global Greening lights landmarks around the world in green — from the Sydney Opera House to Niagara Falls and the Empire State Building.
One detail surprises most people: the parade tradition is American, not Irish. The great Irish parades were exported back to Ireland long after they were established in New York, Boston and Savannah.
Why do we wear green?
Green was not St Patrick’s original colour. Early images of the saint show him in blue, and blue remained associated with him for centuries. Green took over during the 1798 Irish Rebellion, when supporters of Irish independence adopted it as their colour in contrast to the red of the British. Over the nineteenth century, green became the colour of Irish national identity — of the shamrock, the rolling landscape, and eventually the flag.
The American folk custom of pinching anyone not wearing green on March 17 is just that: an American folk custom, with no roots in Ireland at all.
The symbols of St Patrick’s Day — and the ones people get wrong
The shamrock. The three-leafed plant is the enduring symbol of the day. Legend says Patrick used its three leaves to explain the Holy Trinity — Father, Son and Holy Spirit — to the Irish. The story was first written down long after his death, but wearing a sprig of shamrock is the oldest surviving custom attached to the day, recorded from the 1680s. A shamrock has three leaves. A four-leaf clover is a rare variant of white clover and a symbol of luck, not the Irish emblem.
The snakes. The best-known legend claims Patrick drove the snakes out of Ireland. Ireland never had native snakes — the island was cut off by rising seas after the last ice age before snakes could reach it — so the story is best read as a medieval symbol of Patrick driving out paganism, not a piece of natural history.
The harp. Alongside the shamrock, the harp is a state emblem of Ireland, appearing on coins, passports and the presidential seal.
The leprechaun. The mischievous shoemaker of Irish folklore has no connection to Patrick himself, but he became the day’s mascot through American popular culture — on decorations, cereal boxes and party supplies.
Corned beef and cabbage. The classic American St Patrick’s Day meal is an Irish-American invention. In Ireland the traditional dish is bacon (a cured pork joint) and cabbage; Irish immigrants in New York substituted corned beef, which was cheaper and sold by their Jewish neighbours.
The biggest St Patrick’s Day parades in the US in 2027
Parade dates are set locally, so check the official parade site before travelling. The dates below are the established traditions and the 2027 dates published so far (checked 7 November 2026); some organisers had not yet posted 2027 details at the time of writing.
New York City — Wednesday, March 17, 2027. The world’s oldest and largest St Patrick’s Day parade, first held in 1762. It runs up Fifth Avenue from 44th Street to 79th Street, starting at 11:00 a.m. The organisers hold it on March 17 and move it only when the 17th falls on a Sunday, so in 2027 it stays on the Wednesday.
South Boston (Boston) — Sunday, March 14, 2027. Boston’s parade is held on the Sunday nearest the day and doubles as the Evacuation Day parade, marking the British evacuation of Boston in 1776. It starts at 11:30 a.m.
Chicago — Saturday, March 13, 2027 (traditional). Chicago’s downtown parade and the famous dyeing of the Chicago River are traditionally held on the Saturday before St Patrick’s Day, but the 2027 date had not been formally announced at the time of writing — confirm closer to March.
Savannah, Georgia — Wednesday, March 17, 2027 (by tradition). One of the largest parades in the American South; the 2027 details had not yet been announced at the time of writing.
Other 2027 events around the day: Portland’s Shamrock Run is on Sunday, March 14; the Yuengling Shamrock Marathon Weekend in Virginia Beach runs March 19–21; and Chicago’s Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle takes place March 20–21.
Is St Patrick’s Day a holiday in the US?
No. St Patrick’s Day is not a federal holiday in the United States, so on Wednesday, March 17, 2027, federal offices, banks, the US Postal Service and the stock markets will all operate on their normal weekday schedules, and public schools will be open unless a local district decides otherwise. It is a cultural celebration, not a day off.
The exception is Savannah, Georgia, where St Patrick’s Day is a city holiday and local schools and offices close for the parade. In Ireland, by contrast, March 17 is a national public holiday in the Republic and a bank holiday in Northern Ireland, so banks, schools and public offices there are closed. For a February day that is a federal holiday in the US, see our Presidents’ Day 2027 guide.
How to celebrate St Patrick’s Day 2027
You do not need a parade ticket or Irish ancestry to mark the day well. Here are ideas that work at home, with children, or with friends.
Cook an Irish meal. Soda bread is the easiest place to start — four ingredients, no yeast, baked in under an hour. Add Irish stew, colcannon (mashed potatoes with cabbage or kale), or the American classic of corned beef and cabbage. For dessert, try a simple apple tart or a shamrock-shaped shortbread.
Learn a little Irish. A few words go a long way: Lá Fhéile Pádraig sona duit (happy St Patrick’s Day), sláinte (cheers / good health), go raibh maith agat (thank you), and Éire (Ireland). Children enjoy learning to count to ten — a haon, a dó, a trí.
Watch or listen. Put on a traditional music session, a céilí playlist, or a film with an Irish heart — The Quiet Man, Brooklyn, Sing Street or The Banshees of Inisherin (the last is a black comedy, so save it for adults). For a family film night, The Secret of Kells is a beautiful animated introduction to Irish legend.
Do something with children. Make paper shamrocks, try a simple Irish step-dance video, read a picture book about St Patrick, or go on a “green scavenger hunt” around the house and garden. Plant peas on March 17 — old folklore holds it is the traditional day for planting peas, even in the snow.
Wear the green — properly. A green shirt, a shamrock pin or a sprig of real shamrock is all it takes. Remember the rule of the day: three leaves, not four.
Raise a glass responsibly. If you drink, a stout or an Irish whiskey is the traditional choice, and many pubs hold live music sessions on the day. If you are out at a parade, plan transport in advance — roads close early in parade cities.
St Patrick’s Day dates: 2026–2030
| Year | Date | Weekday |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | March 17 | Tuesday |
| 2027 | March 17 | Wednesday |
| 2028 | March 17 | Friday |
| 2029 | March 17 | Saturday |
| 2030 | March 17 | Sunday |
Because the date is fixed, the weekday simply advances by one each year (two after a leap year). When March 17 falls on a Sunday, as it does in 2030, some US parades move to the Saturday, while the New York parade moves to the previous day only when the 17th is a Sunday — worth checking before you book travel.
Frequently asked questions
When is St Patrick’s Day 2027? St Patrick’s Day 2027 is on Wednesday, March 17, 2027. It is always March 17, the traditional date of St Patrick’s death.
Is St Patrick’s Day a federal holiday in the US? No. Federal offices, banks, USPS and stock markets operate normally on March 17. It is a public holiday in the Republic of Ireland and a bank holiday in Northern Ireland.
Why do we wear green on St Patrick’s Day? Green became associated with Ireland during the 1798 Irish Rebellion. Before that, blue was the colour linked to St Patrick. The shamrock and the Irish landscape then made green the day’s signature colour.
What is the difference between a shamrock and a four-leaf clover? A shamrock has three leaves and is the traditional symbol of Ireland. A four-leaf clover is a rare variant of white clover and a symbol of luck.
Did St Patrick really drive the snakes out of Ireland? No — Ireland never had native snakes. The story is a medieval legend, usually read as a symbol of Patrick bringing Christianity to Ireland.
Was St Patrick Irish? No. He was born in Roman Britain, was taken to Ireland as a slave at about sixteen, escaped after six years, and later returned as a missionary bishop.
Where was the first St Patrick’s Day parade? The first recorded parade was held on March 17, 1601, in St Augustine, Florida, then a Spanish colony. The New York parade, first held in 1762, is the oldest continuously running one in the United States.
Why is Chicago’s river green on St Patrick’s Day? Chicago has dyed its river green every year since 1962, using a vegetable-based dye, as part of the city’s St Patrick’s Day celebrations.
What food is traditional for St Patrick’s Day? In Ireland, bacon and cabbage or Irish stew with soda bread. In the United States, corned beef and cabbage became the classic Irish-American meal.
No 2027 deals or offers are listed here — none had been verified from official sources at the time of writing (7 November 2026). Check restaurant and retailer websites closer to March 17 for confirmed 2027 promotions.
Keep exploring 2027
St Patrick’s Day sits in a busy stretch of the 2027 calendar. If you are planning ahead, see our guides to Lunar New Year 2027 (February 6), Valentine’s Day 2027 (February 14), Super Bowl LXI 2027 (also February 14), and Ash Wednesday 2027 (February 10), the start of the Lent season in which St Patrick’s Day falls. And for the end of the year, our Christmas 2026 guide is already live.
Sources and further reading
- St Patrick’s Day — National Today: https://nationaltoday.com/st-patricks-day/
- St Patrick’s Day — The Old Farmer’s Almanac: https://www.almanac.com/content/st-patricks-day?page=9
- St Patrick’s Day 2027 — Awareness Days: https://www.awarenessdays.com/awareness-days-calendar/st-patricks-day/
- St Patrick’s Day 2027 — Calendar Hours: https://calendarhours.com/st-patricks-day-2027/