Tomorrow is St. Patrick’s Day and $5.87 billion is expected to be spent for the holiday this year—that’s $42 per person per the 54% planning to celebrate.
The original St. Patrick’s Day parade took place in the U.S., and March 17 has since grown to be a favorite date on American calendars. Even though you need not be Irish to celebrate, more than 31 million people in the U.S., and counting, are. That’s more than six times the population of Ireland.
As this number increases, so are St. Patrick’s Day traditions across America. One of the most recognized? The dyeing of the Chicago River and the iconic parade, which Chicagoans have missed for the last few years.
This year’s celebrations are, luckily, back in full swing—but not every city’s celebration is “worth kissing the Irish for,” according to WalletHub. We’re breaking down the report to reveal the best U.S. cities to sport your green. And Chicago? It’s No. 4 out of 200.
The study found that Chicago ranks No. 4, as well, in Most Irish Pubs & Restaurants per Capita, and No. 15 in St. Patrick’s Day Parties & Festivals per Capita. Here’s a look at a few more WalletHub stats:
- 44th — Avg. Price of St. Patrick’s Day Party Ticket
- 86th — Avg. Beer Price
- 76th — DUI Fatalities per Capita
- 20th — Lowest Price for Three-Star Hotel on St. Patrick’s Day
- 41st — Percentage of Residents Who Are Fully Vaccinated
But Chicago isn’t the only Illinois city lucky enough to make the list. Believe it or not, Naperville ranks No. 7 overall and is home to the largest percent of Irish in the U.S. Interesting, considering Chicago lands 92nd on the list in terms of Irish Population.
And Illinois doesn’t stop there. Three more cities made WalletHub’s list, including Rockford, Joliet and Aurora, with overall rankings of 50th, 69th and 142nd, respectively.
