The Syracuse St. Patrick’s Day Parade is celebrating its 40th anniversary this weekend. After being canceled for the past two years due to COVID-19, the popular event will step off at noon Saturday, passing through the streets of Downtown Syracuse featuring local talents and a variety of festivities to bring a taste of Ireland to the Salt City.
Before you put your dancing shoes on, here are a few tips to know before you join the celebration.
Featured Act
The theme this year is "Dance through Downtown," featuring local Irish Step Dancers who will perform on Salina Street.
Irish Step Dancing can be performed as a solo or in groups. It is performed with intricate footwork and a stiff upper body. Dancers do not move their arms or hands so the footwork is brought to the foreground.
The opening dance number will consist of a simple set of jigs, clapping and skipping.
How to Get There
Parade officials advise that the best route to enter is at the intersection of S. Geddes Street and Erie Boulevard West until you reach your desired parade route. Marshals will be assisting the event to help guests along the way.
Roads will be closed earlier than usual and street parking will not be available during the event. Parade officials are encouraging visitors to find a parking spot ahead of time and walk to the parade to attend.
Weather Outlook
Here's a look at your weekend weather outlook. Snow showers are expected to move into the region on Saturday, so plan to dress warm.
Visit our interactive radar for more.
Grand Marshals
Upstate New York Journalist Sean Kirst and Photographer John Francis McCarthy will be featured as this year’s Grand Marshals.
Sean Kirst often wrote about Syracuse’s deep Irish heritage, discussing tales surrounding the iconic upside-down traffic signal on Tippery Hill and accounts of Kathleen Hayes Rollins Snavely, the oldest living person ever to be born in Ireland.
John Francis McCarthy is a native of Tippery Hill and grandson of Irish immigrants. Photography has taken John to Ireland where he says he was enchanted by the art and memorable use of the language. McCarthy says it became apparent that storytelling was Ireland’s greatest gift to the world after connecting to the legacy of Bardic Schools to Tipp Hill’s gathering places.
Safety Tips
Parade officials are encouraging visitors to celebrate responsibly by:
- Have a plan to get home safely
- Stick with your designated friends and family members
- Eat and stay hydrated throughout the parade
- If you notice someone unconscious or looks intoxicated, call 911 and stay with individual until help arrives.