The New York City St. Patrick’s Day Parade in 2018.Photo: Stephanie Keith/Getty
As theCovid-19 pandemiccontinues across the United States, many cities are taking a virtual approach to this year’s St. Patrick’s Day celebrations.
St. Patrick’s Day was one of the first holidays on the calendar to be impacted as the pandemic took hold in North America last March, and for the second year in a row, cities are being forced to get creative when it comes to their festivities.
While many states have started to scale back on their Covid-19–related restrictions, most cities will still not allow for large gatherings like parades.
Almost all cities have canceled their annual parades and halted any in-person activities for the holiday on Wednesday. However, that hasn’t stopped them from coming up with new ways to honor the green-filled day.
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While Chicago isn’t holding an in-person parade, the city went forward with one of its other annual traditions of dyeing the Chicago River bright green. The city has celebrated with this unique tradition since 1962.
Mayor Lori Lightfoot decided not to dye the water last year over concerns of drawing in crowds but changed her mind this year in hopes of lifting spirits. In order to avoid crowds, the river-dyeing was not publicized, according to theNew York Post.
The St. Patrick’s Day parade in New York City, a longstanding tradition since 1762, will be held virtually this year and will honor first responders and essential workers who helped battle the pandemic, according to the parade’swebsite.
Nathan Klima for The Boston Globe via Getty
In Boston, where the parade has been canceled for the second year in a row, those who want to honor the holiday can go for a self-guided walk of the Irish Heritage Trail. The Irish Film Festival in Boston will also run virtually from March 17 to March 21, according toForbes.
While the traditional parade is canceled in St. Paul, Minnesota, the city’s St. Patrick’s Association will be hosting the “2021 Irish Mask-arade,” a drive-thru event where attendees can see stationary parade units,Forbesreported. The event will also be live-streamed onFacebook.
According to theNew York Times, several other cities are getting creative with their events as well.
A celebration in Hilton Head, South Carolina, will bemoving to the waterfor a boat parade, while the annual parade in St. James, on Long Island,will be in cars.
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source: people.com
