ST. LOUIS — With two major St. Patrick’s Day parades happening in St. Louis this weekend, both parade committees have been working closely with the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department (SLMPD) to ensure everyone’s safety.

What You Need To Know

  • As the parades draw thousands of people to St. Louis City every year, both parade committees collaborate on safety plans with the SLMPD and first responders

  • There will be 150 police officers on the street during the downtown Metropolitan St. Louis St. Patrick’s Day Parade, in addition to undercover and paid security, according to Kerry McDonough, public relations for the parade. A block captain will be placed at every block who will wear yellow jackets

  • SLMPD officers and paid security also will be on the Hibernian parade route, in addition to marshals

  • Parking may be difficult to find, as Dogtown is a residential neighborhood. There also will be numerous street closures around the Irish Festival

Organizers want to ease fears after a mass shooting Feb. 14 at the Kansas City Chiefs’ Super Bowl celebration left one person dead and wounded almost two dozen others.

In St. Louis, safety has always been a primary goal at the St. Patrick’s Day Parades in Downtown and Dogtown, organizers told Spectrm News.

The Metropolitan St. Louis St. Patrick’s Day Parade is set for Saturday, March 16, and the Hibernian St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Irish Festival will take place Sunday, March 17.

As the parades draw thousands of people to St. Louis City every year, both parade committees collaborate on safety plans with the SLMPD and first responders.

“We’ll be providing extra security for both events on both days,” Sgt. Charles Wall said. “We hope everyone has a safe, enjoyable St. Patrick’s Day weekend.”

People who drink during the celebrations should designate a driver or use public transportation, a rideshare or taxi service, Wall said.

“Anyone aged 21 and over who plans on consuming alcohol at these celebrations is encouraged to do so responsibly,” he said.

There will be 150 police officers on the street during the downtown Metropolitan St. Louis St. Patrick’s Day Parade, in addition to undercover and paid security, according to Kerry McDonough, public relations for the parade.

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

SLMPD Police Chief Robert Tracy will be the honorary parade marshal in the parade.

SLMPD officers and paid security also will be on the Hibernian parade route, in addition to marshals, according to Jim Mohan, publicity chairman of the Ancient Order of Hibernians and the St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

“At the same time, we want parade goers to be aware of their surroundings of what’s going on, and if they see something, say something,” Mohan said.

“We’re very well aware of the situation in Kansas City, but we’ve always done due diligence ahead of time to try to make everything as safe and secure as we can.”  

This year, a section of Manchester Avenue will be closed for the parade to travel through and for spectators to watch, which has been a prior safety concern, according to Mohan.

Wall reminds parade goers that parking may be difficult to find, as Dogtown is a residential neighborhood. There also will be numerous street closures around the Irish Festival.

“We encourage those planning on attending to carpool, utilize public transportation or a rideshare or taxi service,” Wall said.

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