Pittsburgh Ranked In St. Patrick's Day City Celebrations Study

PITTSBURGH, PA — The weather did us in.

Financial analytics website WalletHub rated Pittsburgh the 2024 fifth-best city in the nation for St. Patrick's Day celebration. Pittsburgh largely was penalized for its weather. Pittsburgh lagged behind Boston, Chicago, Savannah and Reno.

WalletHub analyzed cities' St. Patrick's Day traditions, costs, safety and accessibility. Pittsburgh has one of the largest St. Patrick's Day parades in the country, and thus ranked seventh in the nation in terms of traditions.

But when it came to weather, Pittsburgh ranked a miserable 103. That seems justifiable, given the events of the St. Patrick's Day parade in 1993. Remember that one?

A huge snowstorm occurred during the parade that year, one that would end up dropping 23 inches of snow on the city. So yes, the weather hasn't always been the best here.

“St. Patrick’s Day celebrates the Irish, but it’s become a beloved cultural holiday for millions of Americans regardless of their ancestry," WalletHub analyst Cassandra Happe stated on the company's website.

"The best cities for St. Patrick’s Day combine rich traditions with tasty and affordable food, safe conditions to celebrate, and good weather. Celebrating in one of these cities will increase your chances of having a memorable holiday, as long as you don’t overdo it.”