As many of you know, St. Patrick’s Day is Monday, March 17. For all of you Irish out there, you know there are plenty of ways to celebrate this lucky holiday in Chicago, but for the rest of you who don’t know where to start, here are a few ideas.

The St.Patrick’s Day Parade: Chicago’s annual St. Patrick’s Day parade kicks off Saturday, March 15 at 12 p.m. The parade will begin on Balbo and Columbus and stretch all the way to E. Monroe Drive. The viewing stations will be located in front of Buckingham Fountain (which will be dyed green of course). The parade features Irish dancers from all over Chicago, traditional Irish music, support organizations and the 2014 St. Patrick’s Day queen. If you can’t make it to the parade, it will be broadcasted live on local TV stations.

The dyeing of the Chicago River: This unique Chicago tradition begins at 10 a.m. on March 15, prior to the parade. Thousands of people dressed in green line up to see the river change color in celebration of St. Patrick’s Day. The best viewing spots include the East side of the Michigan Ave. bridge, the West side of the Columbus Drive bridge, and along the bank of the Chicago River between Michigan Ave. and Columbus Drive.

The Irish American Heritage Center: Located at 4626 N. Knox Ave., The Irish American Heritage Center (IAHC) is central to Chicago’s Irish pride. Though the building hosts events and activities all year round, the significant month of March brings in an estimated 10,000 attendees each year. The center’s St. Patrick’s Day festivities go all day long, featuring performances from Irish dancers all around Chicago, including the world renowned Trinity Academy of Irish Dancers. The IAHC) also hosts family friendly activities on all four floors, so there’s always something to do. The first floor is especially busy, with live Irish music and dining.

These are just a few of the opportunities for celebration our city has to offer. Throw on some green and connect with the Irish culture of Chicago this year, you won’t regret it.