Feb 19 2009
It isn't all mariachis and Cinco de Mayo in the Southwest. The southwestern U.S. states have plenty of Irish green come March. Find out where to celebrate St. Patrick's Day with parades, festivals and pub parties in Texas, Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, Colorado and Nevada. Erin go bragh!Texas
San Antonio celebrates with a big parade, an Irish festival at La Villita, the Shamrock Scramble golf tournament, and the dyeing of the San Antonio River green! Now this is truly unique. Floats release 35 pounds of environmentally friendly green dye into the San Antonio River. The event transforms the 2.5 mile river into a miniature Emerald Isle where a proclamation is read, temporarily re-naming the river "The River Shannon".
More St. Patrick's Day in Texas.
Houston has a large St. Patrick's Day parade, touted as the one of the largest in the U.S. Houston's St. Patrick's Day Parade is rooted firmly in the city's heritage. The first parades date back to the 1880's when the parade (always on St. Patrick's Day) started in "Irish Town" by old St. Patrick's Church, which was located on Harrisburg. Flags, bands and marchers would march to Market Square for a day of fun, games, music, food and drink. The people spilled in and out of the various pubs in Market Square.
Arizona
Phoenix has a St. Patrick's Day parade and Faire. See the Irish pub listings from About Phoenix for more places to wear green.
Tucson also has a St. Patrick's Day parade and festival. Tucson organizers point out that there were never any snakes native to Ireland so question that St. Patrick chased them out. But they will celebrate anyway!
Head to Sedona for a down home St. Patrick's Day parade with pipers and horses. It starts at the Heritage Museum on Jordan Road and heads toward downtown.
Colorado
Denver hosts a St. Patrick's Day Parade fondly named, "Blarney on Blake."
The Village at Copper Mountain has a St. Paddy's Day celebration featuring a huge street party with live music at the West Lake overlook, authentic Irish fair, spirits and plenty of green beer!
Snowmass goes all out on St. Patrick's Day. It's time to don your green party hat and kick up your heels at this all-Irish celebration! All the action takes place at the base area including kids activities, Irish step dancing, a special Bud Light Big Air Competition open to any Leprechauns who can qualify on the jump, and green beer all day long.
Utah
Salt Lake City puts on a St. Patrick's Day parade each year. Salt Lake City's St. Patrick’s Day parade, sponsored by the Hibernian Society of Utah, wraps up with a post-parade celebration. Also enjoy The Salt Lake Scots Pipe Band, frequently competing in Scotland and Canada, as they appear live in concert on the Saturday before St. Patrick's Day at the Highland High School auditorium.
Nevada
Las Vegas is a fantastic place for St. Patrick's Day. Green beer, leprechauns and an unforgettable party. If you hit Oshea's on the strip you can play beer pong with a real life short, green guy. At New York/New York Hotel Nine Fine Irishmen is a better bet for a more distinguished clientèle. Well, maybe not that much better but I am pretty sure no one will be landing a ping pong ball in your green beer. All About St. Paddy's Day in Vegas.
In Reno, check out one of their Irish Pubs and Restaurants. Finding the Irish in Reno.
