• St. Patrick's Day can be celebrated in many ways.New Vision Technologies Inc/Photodisc/Getty Images
  
  St. Patrick's Day is celebrated each year on March 17 in honor of the most recognized patron saint of Ireland. Although many people associate St. Patrick's Day events with drinking, the Irish holiday can be celebrated in many ways. Include the culture, arts and food of Ireland and its people in your celebrations. And the saying "Everyone loves a parade" is particularly fitting in the many cities that stage St. Patrick Day parades.
  
  

Parades

• Go to or participate in a St. Patrick's Day parade. Many cities, such as Chicago and New York, are famous for parades featuring bagpipe bands and Irish organizations marching down a street packed with celebrating crowds. Some cities schedule their parades so they won't conflict with events in nearby towns. Check your area to see if you can extend the St. Patrick's celebration by attending parades on the day itself as well as the preceding and following weekends.
  
  

Music

• Listen to Irish music, which comes in a range of styles from traditional to punk. Look for recordings or performances by bagpipe bands; groups such as the Clancy Brothers that play traditional Irish drinking songs; and modern punk rock bands such as Dropkick Murphys that put their own twist on Irish tunes. Other Irish musicians or groups of note include flute and whistle player James Galway, Celtic Thunder and the Irish Rovers. And, of course, U2.
  
  

TV And Movies

• Plan your own festival of TV shows and movies showcasing Ireland. The Public Broadcasting System (PBS), in particular, annually offers a variety of TV programming about the history of Ireland and St. Patrick's Day. These shows also highlight the beautiful terrain of the Emerald Isle. For movies, watch the classic "The Quiet Man," starring John Wayne as an American returning to his Irish roots. Other movies involving Ireland include "Michael Collins,'' "Ryan's Daughter," "The Secret of Roan Inish" and "Man of Aran.''
  
  

Food

• Start your St. Patrick's Day with a traditional Irish breakfast with items such as black and white puddings, bacon, sausage, eggs, mushrooms, fried potatoes, Irish tea, Dubliner cheese and Irish beans. Options for lunch, dinner or a hearty party menu include Irish stew, corned beef and cabbage, and pie for dessert. Top it off with a pint of Irish ale.
  
  

Clothes

• Put on any clothing in the color green, and add accessories to help celebrate the occasion. These include hats, beads and paste-on shamrocks. Kilts are more commonly associated with Scotland but have become more popular in Irish culture over the last two decades. It's also common for members of Irish bagpipe bands to wear kilts. Dress up like a leprechaun with a green top hat, vest, knickers and stockings.
  
  

Literature

• Read about Ireland and works by Irish authors. Ireland has produced many famous writers and poets and has a long history of storytelling and legends. Suggestions include works by Oscar Wilde, George Bernard Shaw, W.B. Yeats and James Joyce. Some Irish literature classics include Jonathan Swift's "Gulliver's Travels,'' Oliver Goldsmith's "The Vicar of Wakefield,'' and Joyce's "Ulysses'' and "Finnegan's Wake.''
  
  

Pubs Or Bars

• Many bars, particularly those with Irish roots, go all out on St. Patrick's Day. Live performers playing Irish music are often brought in and many bars serve food such as corn beef and cabbage. Irish beers such as Guinness are on tap, and some bars even dye their beer green. You can plan your own pub crawl, using a bus or van and designated driver to keep the party moving and safe.