Clare's Irish Festival and "City of Festivals"

With a name borrowed from County Clare in Ireland, Clare leans happily into its Irish side — locals call it the “City of Festivals,” and the big one is the Clare Irish Festival every March, around St. Patrick’s Day. For about half a century it’s drawn thousands of people downtown for a parade, live music, a craft show, bed races, a leprechaun contest, and plenty of green. (Even the town’s duck figurines turn green for the occasion.)

Clare sits right where US-127 and US-10 cross — long called a “gateway to the north” — so it’s an easy stop, and the walkable downtown of brick sidewalks, shops, and restaurants is part of the appeal year-round.

The Irish Festival runs each March; details are at clarecounty.com.