ST. LOUIS — The 55th annual Metropolitan St. Louis St. Patrick’s Day Parade is set for Saturday, March 16, which will feature a new all-inclusive tent for spectators to enjoy.

What You Need To Know

  • This year’s parade in Downtown, which celebrates Irish culture and heritage, will include more than 120 units, such as 15 marching bands, floats, huge cartoon character balloons, Irish dance schools, and more than 5,000 marchers

  • A new “Leprechaun Lounge,” located on the parade route, will offer prime viewing, live entertainment, food by Salk + Smoke and drinks in a climate-controlled tent with tables and chairs

  • The parade will take off at Market and 20th Street at noon and then will proceed east to end at 8th Street

  • The annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade Run will start at 9 a.m. The festive, five-mile course through Downtown draws more than 5,000 runners

This year’s parade in Downtown, which celebrates Irish culture and heritage, will include more than 120 units, such as 15 marching bands, floats, huge cartoon character balloons, Irish dance schools, and more than 5,000 marchers.

The family float called the “Descendants of Nellie Fogarty” is set to return for its 55th year in the parade. It’s known for barbecuing hot dogs and handing them out to parade attendees while on the route, according to Kerry McDonough, public relations for the parade.  

Also returning will be the Lawn Chair Brigade that performs synchronized routines using lawn chairs.

The parade will take off at Market and 20th Street at noon and then will proceed east to end at 8th Street.

Parade founder, Joseph B. McGlynn, Jr., will lead this year’s parade alongside dignitary guest of honor from the Irish government, Patrick O’Donovan, TD - Limerick County - Fine Gael, and honorary parade marshal, St. Louis Metropolitan Police Chief Robert Tracy, in addition to local and regional officials.

A new “Leprechaun Lounge,” located on the parade route, will offer prime viewing, live entertainment, food by Salk + Smoke and drinks in a climate-controlled tent with tables and chairs. The lounge will be open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. for 21 and older. Tickets can be purchased online.

The lounge was inspired by the tents at the Mardi Gras Parade, according to McDonough. He said Leprechaun Lounge will be in a “fantastic location” on Market Street.

“It is basically an area for people to come down and not have to worry about bringing things,” he said.

The annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade draws approximately 250,000 to St. Louis who come from parts of Missouri, Illinois and Iowa, McDonough said.

With large numbers of people coming out for the parade each year, McDonough said public safety is a primary goal.

The parade committee has been planning with SLMPD, fire and EMS where there will be 150 police officers on the street, in addition to undercover and paid security.

A block captain will be placed at every block who will wear yellow jackets.

He mentioned that items given during the parade, such as beads and candy, are not tossed but handed out.  

This year’s parade is sponsored by Aetna Insurance.

St. Patrick's Day Parade Run

Sponsored by Michelob Ultra, the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade Run will start at 9 a.m. on parade day. The festive, five-mile course through Downtown draws more than 5,000 runners.

At each mile-marker, there will be a DJ playing music. The race finishes near the hundreds of floats at Kiener Plaza.

Runners also can take part in the 3K shuffle.

Registration for the races can be done online. There is a package that includes both a run registration and a Leprechaun Lounge ticket.

A portion of the runner application proceeds will be donated to the St. Patrick Center.