St. Patrick's Day Parades: The Biggest, Oldest and Most Spectacular

When it comes to finding the best parade to check out on March 17th, what criteria would you go by? Are you looking for the parade with most number of attendees? Or the oldest parade in the nation? Do you judge a St. Patty's Day parade by the number of kilts, bagpipes, or green beer-guzzling participants? Or by the sheer enthusiasm of the participants?

Obviously, all of these are important factors in what makes up for an ideal St. Patrick's Day parade. So, without further ado, here's a list of superlative St. Patrick's Day parades around the nation.

Largest Attendance: Not surprisingly, the best-attended St. Patrick's Day parade happens in New York City. Often mistaken for being the nation's original one, the NYC St. Patrick's Day parade is easily the largest on the planet in terms of spectators -- an estimated two million revelers line the streets to watch the kilt-clad hordes march by.

Oldest Parade: Unsurprisingly, the nation's oldest St. Patty's parade took place in what is considered by most to be the cradle of Irish Americana: Boston. Beantown's first parade dedicated to the Irish saint was held in 1737.

Longest Running Parade: The title for longest-running St. Patrick's Day parade belongs to New York City, which has been going green steadily since 1762.

Most Participants: Where can you go to see the most leprechauns, kilts and bagpipes. I'm starting to feel like a broken record here, but it appears that with an estimated 150,000 marchers, the Big Apple once again takes the top spot.

Shortest Parade: The title of quirkiest St. Patty's parade belongs to Hot Springs, Arkansas -- hands down. Hot Springs' 98-foot long parade is not only the official "Shortest St. Patrick's Day Parade," it's also been labeled "The Zaniest St. Patrick's Day Parade on Earth" by the Smithsonian Magazine, on account of the parade's Irish Elvises, San Diego Chicken, and Lards of the Dance troupe (middle-aged Irish folk dancers).

Greenest Parade: Chicago not only hosts one of the nation's largest St. Patty's Day parades, it's takes the award for the greenest parade, literally speaking. Each St. Patrick's Day, the city's Journeyman Plumbers dump 45 lbs of dye into the Chicago River, making it the greenest by far ... though not ecologically speaking.

Oldest Leprechaun: While I'm at it, I feel compelled to tip my hat to the "World's Oldest Leprechaun," 96-year-old Dr. Albert Habeeb, who participated in last year's parade in Hot Springs. Whether he will make an appearance this year is yet to be announced.