St. Paul braces for 800,000 visitors during St. Patrick's Day festivities
- St. Paul has prepared for St. Patrick's Day with events like Luckypalooza and a parade.
- Local businesses are optimistic about increased traffic due to festivities.
- The celebration aims to revive downtown business amid recent economic challenges.
In the United States, St. Paul, Minnesota, is celebrating St. Patrick's Day today, with extensive events planned to attract locals and visitors alike. The city has been preparing for this festive occasion for weeks, with numerous preparations observed including the setup of tents for parties and barricades to close certain streets for safety. The festivities kicked off on Saturday, March 15, 2025, with an event called Luckypalooza, which featured live music, DJs, and various activities to engage the community. This event reportedly attracted at least 5,000 attendees, indicating a strong local interest in St. Patrick's Day celebrations. The St. Patrick's Day parade is set to start at noon today, March 17, 2025, leaving Rice Park. According to Ralph Matthews, a parade organizer with the St. Patrick's Day Association, the parade will showcase numerous Irish clans and local community members, contributing to the festive atmosphere that characterizes this event. The organizers are hopeful that this event will help revive business in downtown St. Paul, especially given the challenges posed by recent pandemic-related downturns. Simultaneously, local businesses, especially those in the hospitality sector, are optimistic about the economic boost St. Patrick's Day will provide. Pat Boemer, owner of Patrick McGovern's Pub, which has been a key player in organizing Luckypalooza, emphasizes that the celebration is crucial for stimulating the local economy, with many establishments reporting significantly lower lunch crowds amid recent closures and vacancies in downtown St. Paul. The overall sentiment among business owners is mixed; while they express hope for increased patronage and community spirit, they also recognize the ongoing struggles within the business landscape. Nevertheless, the overwhelming participation in St. Patrick's Day festivities and community engagement suggests a positive turn for local businesses as they recover from the effects of the pandemic.