St Patrick's Day 2024

Get ready for St. Patrick's Day 2024! This holiday is well-celebrated with numerous cities and towns across Kansas putting together annual parades and festivals. This isn't a "just for fun" type of celebration, either. The roots and heritage of the Irish people go back to Kansas, even before it became a state! 

History of Irish Immigration to Kansas

Kansas' history is full of Irish roots, with many communities across the state having significant ties back to their Irish heritage. The Irish Potato Famine of the late 1840s wreaked havoc on the island and motivated numerous Irish citizens to seek new opportunities. For many Irish immigrants, Kansas was an incredibly promising place. When the area became an open territory for permanent settlement in the 1850s, many Irish immigrants saw promise in the fertile lands of Kansas.

Irish Significance in Kansas

Around 11-12% of the population in Kansas has Irish Heritage. Atchison County in Northeast Kansas and Comanche County in Southwest Kansas maintain the highest percentages of citizens with Irish origins. Interestingly, Irish mythology has had a tremendously lasting impact on Kansas and its culture. The beloved Jayhawk (if you're a KU fan) actually comes from Irish traditional folklore! Many of the Irish settlers in Kansas were proud people who have left behind descendants who still celebrate their heritage to this day.

Abilene

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St. Patrick's Day Express

If you haven't ever been on the Abilene and Smoky Valley Railroad, what better day to do it than St. Patrick's Day? It isn't every year that you think of hopping on a historic train route to celebrate the luck of the Irish, but this experience is worth every mile. 

Atchison

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Irish Cheers for 40 Years!

Cheers to 40 Years of the Annual Atchison St. Patrick's Day Parade. The event will kick off at 10:30 with the crowning of the grand marshal and the parade will start in the afternoon, around 2 PM, with a pub crawl to follow at 4 PM. Come for the entire day or just for an hour, you'll have a good time no matter what!

Lawrence

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37th Annual Parade

Like most parades in Lawrence, this one runs through the heart of downtown on Mass Street. If you haven't been to Lawrence during a parade, you're missing out! The residents of Lawrence have a reputation for putting on some pretty solid parties, and St. Patrick's Day is no exception!

Leavenworth

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41st Annual Parade

Watch downtown Leavenworth turn green! The city will celebrate its 40th annual St. Patrick's Day Parade this year and local businesses are ready to bring the festive vibes.

Manhattan

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Road Races!

Pack your running shoes before you come to Little Apple for St. Patrick's Day! Manhattan will be hosting its annual Road Race in an effort to "fill with ville with GREEN". Make your pick between a long-distance 10k or a shorter 1-mile walk! 

Overland Park

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Downtown Overland Park!

Head on over to Downtown OP's first-ever St. Patrick's Day Parade! The parade kicks off at 10:00 AM on Saturday, March 16! The parade runs right through the Clock Tower Plaza area and many downtown area restaurants will be open for business!

Shawnee

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40th  Annual Parade

You won't want to miss the 1 mile long Shawnee St. Patrick's Day Parade! This event comes packed with Irish festivities and a rubber duck race! The duck race is at 3:30 at Herman Laird Park. You'll be able to enjoy Irish music, dancing, and food all afternoon long.

Topeka

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IrishFest!

IrishFest is back in Downtown Topeka! The parade kicks off at noon, and you'll have the opportunity to donate a suggested $20 to the Lifehouse Child Advocacy Center. 

Wichita

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Delano Paddy Day Parade

Come to Wichita's Delano Historic District for the St. Patrick's Day Parade! Bring the family to enjoy the Kids Zone and Teen Zone after the parade. The street party will have a food truck rally, a live DJ from 2-5 p.m., and a live band (Big Fat Fun) from 5-8 p.m. 

Bar Crawl!

We hope you packed your green walking shoes for this event because the bars in Old Town Wichita will be celebrating the Luck of the Irish all day long! A friendly reminder that tickets are required, and we ask that everyone who attends drinks responsibly, (You don't want to have bad luck on this day, trust me). You can grab tickets and keep up with the event on their Facebook page. 

Learn More About European Heritage in Kansas

A circle of Swedish Folk Dancers dancing around the Midsummer Pole in Lindsborg.

European Heritage

Kansas’ reputation as the wheat state began when Russian immigrants brought hard winter wheat with them to their new home.