How to Attend the St. Patrick's Festival in Dublin

Dublin, Ireland is the center of the Irish world. Accordingly, the St. Patrick's Day Festival is the pinnacle of all Irish celebrations. The St. Patrick's Festival is 5 days long and features many lively events that highlight the best of Irish music, comedy, music and food. Not surprisingly, many people from all over the world choose to travel to Dublin during the week of March 17th each year to attend this citywide party. If you would like to participate, be sure to consider a few important things as you plan your trip to Ireland.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

1. Attend the opening ceremonies held at Dublin City Hall. This event is the official beginning of the St. Patrick's Day festival and is usually hosted by the mayor of Dublin. In previous years, elaborate light installations have been used to decorate City Hall in green, lighting up each night throughout the festival.
2. Bring your children, or yourself if you are feeling playful and adventurous, to the Fun Fair held each year during the St. Patrick's Day Festival in Dublin. This event is a full-fledged carnival including amusement park rides and exciting activities for kids. A 150-foot tall Ferris wheel is the centerpiece of this event and is an excellent way to take in a full view of the entire city of Dublin.
3. View the fireworks over the Liffey River. The fireworks are usually held on St. Patrick's Day itself and can be seen from miles around the river, though it is nice to find a spot along the river to be able to see the reflection of colors off the water.
4. Visit the local pubs during the St. Patrick's Day festival and try out some locally brewed beers. Pubs are an important part of the social scene in Dublin and are always filled with celebrators during this holiday in particular. Most pubs in Dublin will also feature live music both during the day and at night throughout the week of the festival.
5. Purchase some authentic St. Patrick's Day Festival souvenirs to bring home with you to commemorate your trip to Dublin. Official festival merchandise, including hats, t-shirts, masks and pins, are likely to be available from street vendors throughout the festival grounds. You may also want to buy some souvenirs to bring home to your Irish friends in the United States.

Tips & Warnings

• Prepare to deal with large crowds if you plan to attend the events that make up the St. Patrick's Day Festival. The festival has attracted half a million people in recent years.