Charleston is one of the most popular vacation destinations in the United States. The famous city is known for its history, romantic locales, and beautiful weather. With an average daily temperature of 65.6 degrees Fahrenheit, it’s no wonder that people come from all over to visit.
Despite Chucktown’s reputation as a place of romance, St. Paddy’s Day in the iconic city is a surprising and utterly delightful experience. Let’s see what we can expect from the St. Patrick’s Day celebrations in Charleston this year.
Times And Dates
What is St. Paddy’s Day without a parade? Charleston hosts the biggest (and best) St. Patrick’s Day Parade in the entire state, and this year it begins at 10 am on Saturday, March 16, 2019. Thousands of participants and watchers are gathering to take part in the massive march; it begins at King and Radcliffe Streets before proceeding down Broad and concluding at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist. For the religiously-inclined, there will also be a celebratory mass occurring at 8 am in St. Patrick’s Church before the parade kicks off.
What To Expect
Though you may not associate the southern U.S. with Irish heritage, immigration to the south was quite common. By 1790, an estimated 14% of South Carolina’s population was Irish, including some of Charleston’s first colonists; Sullivan’s Island, one of the main attractions in the busy city, was named for Captain Florence O’Sullivan, the man in charge of manning the signal cannon on that very island in 1674.
As a result of this surprising history, St. Paddy’s Day in Charleston boasts Irish step dancers, fiddlers, bag pipers, and even a special singing of the Irish National Anthem at 11:30 am. Hundreds of vendors will be offering traditional Irish American meals, such as corned beef and cabbage, during this historical entertainment.
Fortunately, the city’s other services will still be up and running. Whether you want to walk through plantation grounds, hire horse carriage tours (of either the ghost or historic variety), or simply enjoy the shops downtown, the freedom is yours. Catch the morning mass, treat yourself to some corned beef, and finish the afternoon off with a horse carriage ride through the beautiful historic district.
