St. Patrick's Day - Find local fun, gifts and more!

New Orleans St. Patrick's Day Parade

The New Orleans St. Patrick's Day ParadeNew Orleans’s St. Patrick’s Day parade dates back to 1947.

When:

Saturday, March 16, 2024 from 1 pm to 2:30 pm. See the parade's website for latest updates. They could have changed or cancelled it after we last updated this page..
(the parade takes place on the Saturday immediately prior to March 17th each year.)

Where:

The Parade procession kicks off at 1:00 p.m. on Napoleon Avenue, turning onto Magazine Street and ending on Jackson Avenue. Parade viewing and block parties are free and open to the public! You can view the parade along the parade route or at a private establishment.

View a larger printable PDF version of the New Orleans St. Patrick's Day Parade Route Map here.

If you want an interactive Google map, so you can get directions to some point along the parade route, click here!

Who is in the parade:

The parade now includes representatives from New Orleans's Irish groups. It will include floats, trucks, marching bands and second-liners. Throws include beads, doubloons, flowers, moon pies, and of course, vegetables. Those that experience the luck of the Irish may catch some cabbage from a passing float or receive a kiss from one of the walking club members.

If you'd like to see photos from last year's parade, click here. But the parade is not just an “Irish thing”. According to their website, the parade

The celebration will begin with mass held at St. Mary’s Assumption Church at noon, and the parade will follow immediately after.
Block Parties: Want to continue the celebration? Find your pot of gold at one of the St. Paddy’s block parties.

Downtown Irish Club's Block Party at Washington Park from12 pm to 4 pm.
Free Admission to Everyone.  Beer & Spirits, Food , Live Music, & Craft Vendors.

Parasol’s Bar located in the Irish Channel celebrates the holiday with a blowout party throughout an entire block of the neighborhood. The St. Patrick's Day Parade should be held on Saturday, March 16, 2024. See their website for latest updates. They could have changed or cancelled it after we last updated this page. Festival with green beer, local flavors and even -leprechauns- crowd the area from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Annunciation Square holds another block party on benefit St. Michael’s Special School. From 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. arts and crafts, local eats, wine, beer, Irish music and dancers will fill the playground to commemorate the holiday.

For more information about St. Patrick’s Day festivities, visit the parade's website

Attending the parade as a spectator

What to bring

If it is a cold day, bring a warm hat, warm gloves, and warm shoes. For a sunny day, you’ll want to bring sunglasses, suntan lotion, and a hat. The parade goes on rain, shine or snow.

Transportation and Parking

Mass transit is a great way to get in and out to see the parade.

Other parades and events

There are other in New Orleans

  • Friday before St. Patrick's Day - The Downtown Irish Club Parade starts at 6:30 p.m. in the Bywater and travels through the French Quarter, making several pit stops at local drinking establishments as it heads towards Bourbon Street.
  • Friday before St. Patrick's Day  Starts at 6 p.m. Molly’s at the Market 1107 Decatur Street .- a French Quarter parade with riders in carriages and marching groups.
  • Saturday before St. Patrick's Day starts at 1 p.m. at the St. Mary’s Assumption Church. The Irish Channel Parade with Irish themed floats, marching bands, countless men dressed in tuxedos and plenty of green beads.
  • Saturday before St. Patrick's Day - Parasol's Block Party 10am - 8pm
  • Saturday before St. Patrick's Day  - Tracy's Block Party 11am
  • Sunday before St. Patrick's Day at 12 pm in  Metairie - Parade  The parade starts in front of Rummel High School on Severn Avenue.
  • Sunday after St. Patrick's Day - Louisiana Irish-Italian Parade in Metarie, along the Veterans Highway parade route. Starts at 12 pm
  • First Saturday in April - St. Bernard Irish Italian Islenos Parade in Chalmette, starting at 12 pm.

 

More information

If you want more information, such as to participate in the parade or become a sponsor, see the parade's official website here...

Find the parade's Facebook page here.

Other holidays and resources: