Buenos Aires, Argentina
With Argentina having a considerably large Irish population (it is the fifth largest community of Irish individuals in the world with more than 400,000 residents), March 17th starts out with mass in various citywide churches to celebrate Ireland’s patron saint. And when the sun goes down, the real party begins. For the last twenty years, over 60,000 Argentineans have flocked to the Irish quarter of Buenos Aires, Retiro. Reconquista Street becomes a sea of green, but it not the typical linear parade. Instead, the ten blocks surrounding the area are closed off to traffic and there is an all out party in the streets, dancing, drinking and all. Kilkenny and Downtown Matias are two of the most popular traditional Irish pubs in the area and locals recommend getting there early to ensure a nice pint of Guinness.
Christiansted, St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands
For the past thirty-nine years, the people of St. Croix have been joining the worldwide St. Patrick’s Day festivities with their annual parade. Local lore holds that Crucians, a diverse people to begin with, will celebrate anything that represents the history of a culture, even if it’s not their own. This year’s parade, a big old party from the Christiansted Wharf to Company and King Streets, will take place on March 15th at 11am sharp! (Rumor has it that this is the only event in St. Croix that actually starts on time, so I would not be late). Each year there are competitions for best vendor and float and the parade also has a distinct theme. For 2008 the parade attendees will wear shirts boasting the theme, “Unifying the orange and green and a’we in between.” Crucians encourage everyone to come out in their wackiest green attire for a fun day that is also benefitting St. Croix’s economy, as each year the parade brings in nearly $50,000 to local businesses.
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Dubai’s Irish Village hosted a lavish party on St. Patrick’s Day this year. The fest kicked off with a dinner buffet from 6:30 p.m. until 11:30. Note that although entrance to the event is free, the cost for the buffet seating was seventy AED per person (you’ve been warned for next year!). Live music and entertainment performed by traditional Irish bands, Irish dances, and DJ Marky Mark keeps the crowds dancing and cheering all night. The Irish Village’s Craftshop, open from midnight until 4 p.m., has been stocked with green and orange items such as wigs, shirts, and other novelties that make the party even more colorful. There’s also room for the kids at this St. Paddy’s Day party; they can enjoy their own supervised play area with face painting, a bouncy castle, and other games.
