The luck of the Irish is on the side of frugal travelers this month.
Several hotels are offering money-saving deals on St. Patrick’s Day themed packages. Meanwhile, some cities are featuring holiday fun for the entire family for free, including:
California: Go green in sunny San Diego this year. On Saturday, March 16th the city will be hosting an Irish bash like no other beginning with a massive St. Patrick’s Day parade. It features more than 120 marching bands, towering floats, dancers, bagpipe contingents, singers, drill teams, clowns and a variety of other entries. The parade kicks off at 10:30 a.m. from Sixth Avenue and Juniper Street, travels north on Fifth Avenue to Upas, then over to Sixth Avenue and South on Sixth to conclude at Juniper Street. Following the parade, families are invited to attend a free St. Patrick’s Day Festival at Balboa Park complete with food and craft booths as well as an authentic Celtic Village and Kids Zone. The Celtic Village transports visitors back to the year 1582. History comes alive thanks to renaissance re-enactors who portray the daily drama of the soldiers of House McFionn. The reenactment includes authentic fighting demonstrations along with Irish dance, song, crafts, and story-telling. Meanwhile, the Kids Zone is filled with games, rides, llamas, face-painting, and a host of other fun activities for children of all ages.
Illinois: Find your pot of gold at KeyLime Cove’s Spectacular St. Patrick’s Weekend Extravaganza. The state’s largest indoor waterpark resort is slashing nightly rates to lure lucky leprechauns to its Gurnee-based property. From March 14-17th you can take part in holiday-themed activities, restaurant specials and overnight accommodations at a reduced price of just $109.95. That’s nearly $50 off regular rack rates. You can save even more if you win the resort’s annual “Leprechaun” costume contest on Sunday evening. The most creative St. Patrick’s Day getup will snag you and a free overnight stay on St. Patty’s Day 2014.