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Best Parades / Celebrations On St. Patrick's Day In Minnesota

The fun celebrations that break up the monotony of a long and cold winter in Minnesota land around March 17th. St. Patrick's Day is celebrated by all backgrounds and the parades and parties are enjoyed by everyone. Minnesota never overlooks a chance to have a good time and bring the neighborhood together for a day. This year, grab a glass or green beer and a four-leaf clover and head out to one of these great events on St. Patrick's Day.
St. Patrick's Day Parade
(credit: CBS)

St. Patrick's Day Parade
Downtown St. Paul, Parade Starts At Noon
Best Place To Watch:
Rice Park
109 W. 4th St.
St. Paul, MN 55102
(651) 632-5111
www.stpatsmn.org

Date: March 17, 2015

The 49th Annual St. Patrick's Day Parade will take place at noon on Tuesday, March 17. This year, the parade will feature a bagpipe band and will travel down the streets of St. Paul, spreading Irish cheer to all. One of the longest running St. Patrick's Day parades in the country, the St. Paul Parade is organized by the St. Patrick Association, a group of Minnesotans with Irish heritage. What started as an event to celebrate the Irish community of St. Paul has turned into one of the biggest events in March. Put on your favorite green gear and head downtown this year to the parade. Enjoy the crowning of Miss Shamrock and drink specials from local businesses while you're there.

Kip's Irish Pub 
9970 Wayzata Blvd.
St. Louis Park, MN 55426
(952) 367-5070
www.kipspub.com

Tucked away in a suburb of Minneapolis is an Irish pub with a great St. Patrick's Day party. Starting the weekend before the big day, Kip's Irish Pub will be featuring drink specials, live music and special events leading up to the holiday. Join the party at any time and rub shoulders with the Irish community of St. Louis Park, a group that knows how to have a good time. Kip's Pub also serves traditional Irish meals to go with your green beer and is conveniently located in a hotel, just in case you overdo it on the partying and feel like driving home may be a bad idea.

Minneapolis' St. Patrick's Day Parade 2013
(credit: CBS)

Minneapolis Parade
Downtown Minneapolis
Nicollet Mall
Minneapolis, MN 55402
(763) 234-0669
www.mplsstpats.org

Date: March 17, 2015

After hitting up the St. Paul parade on March 17th, make your way across the river to the evening St. Patrick's Day parade in downtown Minneapolis. Starting at 6 p.m. on the Nicollet Mall, the parade will move along the Mall with the support of local businesses and the surrounding community. Have some fun with shamrock paintings, pub crawls and Irish entertainment as you enjoy a parade of green. Pubs along the parade route will be offering drink specials and entertainment to accompany the parade and keep the party going after it's over.

Related: Best Bars With Local Brews In Minnesota

O'Gara's St. Patrick's Day Bash
164 N. Snelling Ave.
St. Paul, MN 55104
(651) 644-3333
www.ogaras.com

Check out one of the longest standing Irish pubs in the Twin Cities for the best party around. O'Gara's starts the fun at 3 p.m. and brings in live music, dancing and fantastic events until the bar closes at 2 a.m. Enjoy an Irish beer on tap or just take advantage of the food and drink specials offered for no cover charge. If you're looking for a place to stop by after the parade and stay all night, O'Gara's is where you want to head.

St. Paul's St. Patrick's Day Parade
(credit: CBS)

Bemidji's World's Shortest Parade
317 Beltrami Ave. N.W.
Bemidji, MN 56601
(218) 444-0567
www.visitbemidji.com

Date: March 17, 2015

Join the world's shortest parade that takes place every St. Patrick's Day in downtown Bemidji. The parade starts on 317 Beltrami Avenue, at Brigid's Cross Irish Pub, and travels across the street to 310 Beltrami Ave, the Keg N' Cork Irish Pub. At exactly 72 feet and 8 inches, this parade is perfect for anyone wanting a quick St. Patty's stroll before the party begins. Join the costume contest and win prizes or just enjoy authentic Irish food and fun. The celebration starts at 5:30 p.m. and is a favorite event for locals and visitors each year.

Related: Best St. Patrick's Day Bars In Minnesota

Andrea Wodele is a freelance writer who has lived in the Twin Cities for the last 10 years. Her hobbies include exercising, driving kids around, watching Minnesota sports, and reading self-help literature. Examiner.com.

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