Pittsburgh’s annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade will take place on Saturday, March 17, 2018, with the same Downtown parade route it’s followed in recent years, featuring over 23,000 participants featuring Pittsburgh-area marching bands, Irish dancers, and a host of Irish-heritage groups. The event begins at 10 a.m.
The event celebrates Pittsburgh’s Irish heritage and is normally attended by 200,000-plus people, all “Irish for the day.” On warmer days the parade has attracted more than 350,000 spectators. It has enjoyed a 148-year history in the city, having occurred non-stop since 1950. Many Pittsburghers remember that not even a blizzard in 1993 could prevent Pittsburgh’s Irish from marching. Pittsburgh’s is one of the largest St. Patrick’s Day Parades in the United States.
The 2018 St. Patrick’s Day Parade will feature roughly 200 marching units, including bands, floats, several police, fire and emergency service agencies, along with many groups from Pittsburgh’s Irish community and other entrants.
The Pittsburgh St. Patrick’s Day Parade is the highlight of an entire week of Irish-heritage events in and around Pittsburgh, featuring area artists, musicians and community groups. In addition to being a celebration of great significance to those with Celtic roots, parade organizers suggest that the parade be a catalyst for all Pittsburgh to explore Irish heritage, culture, entertainment and cuisine throughout the year.
Pre-Parade Mass at St. Patrick Church in the Strip District
Traditionally, on parade day, the parade hosts a special pre-parade Roman Catholic Mass to be held at St. Patrick’s Church in the Strip District. This is open to all parade-goers.
