Travel Tips & Trends

Get your Irish on

Those wanting to celebrate St. Patrick's Day in Colorado have many options. From parades with pipers to sports and snakes, Coloradans can revel in all things Irish.

Denver hosts one of the largest St. Patrick's Day celebrations, with a parade beginning at 10 a.m. downtown on March 15. www.denverstpatricksdayparade.org.

Colorado Springs kicks off its festivities on March 15 with a 5K run starting from Acacia Park. The parade begins at noon on the corner of Tejon St. and E. St. Vrain. 719-635-8803, www.csstpats.com.

The Fort Collins parade starts at 10 a.m. on March 15, on Walnut Ave. 970-484-6500, www.downtownfortcollins.com.

Snowmass celebrates St. Patrick's Day on March 17 with dancers, a pipe-and-drum band, a "lucky leprechaun" scavenger hunt and green ski runs. 800-SNOWMASS, www.stayaspensnowmass.com.

Legend tells of St. Patrick driving the snakes from Ireland, so the Denver Zoo celebrates with a Serpent Festival on March 15-16. 303-376-4800, www.denverzoo.org.

For those interested in expressing their Irish side the rest of the year, try hurling or Gaelic football. The Denver Gaels practice every Sunday afternoon, April through October. In March and April they're looking for new players-no experience is necessary. 303-800-5622, www.denvergaels.com.