Whether you’re of bona-fide Irish stock or you just love a grand excuse to revel in Irish culture for a day, St. Patrick’s Day is one of the most popular and most celebrated holidays in all of Europe and North America. Marked by all things green, lucky, and boozey, and punctuated by parades far and near, the religious feast day of the patron saint of Ireland is an almost-guaranteed day of excess and fun — no matter where you mark it.
If you’re planning a spring trip to the Niagara Peninsula, you’ll we can don green with gusto as you’ll find plenty of Irish-related entertainment popping up all over the region. From the world’s shortest parade to our most authentic Irish pub, here are three of the many reasons you should consider enjoying St. Patty’s Day in Niagara.
The Parade
Started in the 1970s, the Niagara Falls St. Patrick’s Day Parade takes place at 4:45pm every March 17th in front of the Niagara Falls Conference Center, and to call it “short,” is to give it too much credit. Members of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, a local Catholic priest or two, regional politicians, someone in the role or St. Patrick, and a well-dressed leprechaun are all that make up the world’s shortest parade. After a small smattering of steps, the parade participants leave the parade “route” and head indoors to the conference center for a party that includes plenty of beer, food, and entertainment. For an unusual St. Patrick’s Day event that won’t take up too much time — especially if the weather is foul — the parade is a perfect break in a day of celebration.
The Pub
Doc Magilligan’s is an authentic Irish pub and restaurant centrally located on Lundy’s Lane in Niagara Falls. Owned by a family whose descendants go all the way back to Dungiven, Ireland, everything from its menu to its rich, tasteful decor feels plucked from the hills and dales of Ireland making a meal and a drink at
Doc Magilligan’s feel like a trip to the Motherland any time of year. Around St. Patrick’s Day, however, they pull out all the stops with live music, dancing, specials, and throngs of revelers. Eat authentic Irish food from breakfast until late at night, and drink pint after pint of Guinness to go along with it. If you want your Niagara Falls St. Patty’s experience to feel something like it might if you were to head over to Ireland, get to Doc Magilligan’s early and stay late.
The Green Waterfalls
While the trio of waterfalls that make up Niagara Falls are stunning any time of year, day or night, St. Patrick’s Day night finds them in a rare and Irish-themed hue. Most nights out of the year, the waterfalls are bathed in a rainbow of colors, but when March 17th rolls around, the falls go green. If you’ve never seen millions of gallons of green-tinted water rushing through the dark of night with a deafening roar while merrymaking is all around you, you’ve never experienced St. Patrick’s Day in Niagara.
Spend March 17th with us, and let your inner leprechaun loose in a place he’ll feel right at home.