Your Guide to D.C.'s St Patrick's Day Parade

History of the Parade

In 1971, D.C. held its first St. Patrick's Day Parade in the DuPont Circle neighborhood. Only a few hundred participants marched, but the parade has since grown to a grand celebration of Irish culture. While D.C. is noted for the invasion of politics into most forums, the St. Patrick's Day Parade is off limits to political campaigns, though politicians do participate in the festivities. The work on the parade starts in the previous September, when sponsors, bands, and other parties receive their first invitations. The parade has a theme each year and local pubs get involved from the planning phase to holding parties on the day of the event. There are several trophies for participants for everything from the floats to the marching bands.

Noted Past Participants

Past Grand Marshals of the D.C. St. Patrick's Day Parade have included noted Irish Speaker of the House Thomas P. "Tip” O'Neill, actress Helen Hayes, and Olympic gold medalist Tom Dolan. In 2002, the parade honored the heroes and victims of the 9/11 attacks by making them collectively the honorary Grand Marshal. The parade committee also chooses a "Gael of the Year," a Washington D.C.-area resident who makes an impact on the community. Past Gaels include Sister Seton Cunneen, a social justice advocate, and Monsignor R. Joseph Dooley, the chaplain for the D.C. police and fire departments.

The theme for the 2017 parade is "Irish in Public Service," and the Grand Marshal is Cody Keenan, formerly the White House Director of Speech Writing. The parade honors Keith Carny, president of FedNet, as the Gael. Several area pubs are hosting parties on the days surrounding the parade, featuring drink specials and Irish food. The parade itself will feature floats, marching bands, traditional pipe bands, dancers, and military processions.

2017 Parade Route

The Sunday, March 12th parade starts on the corner of Constitution Avenue and 7th Street NW, in the Federal Triangle neighborhood. Floats, bands, and other participants travel ten blocks down Constitution to 17th Street, past the grandstands on 15th and 16th Streets. The judges are also seated in the grandstand area and participants perform in hopes of winning a coveted trophy. While the rest of the parade route is free, there is a charge for tickets for grandstand seating. Restroom facilities are available near the grandstands.

Tips for Parade Day

The parade has grown over the years to several thousand participants and arriving early is key to finding a good spot to watch the procession. Take public transportation from another part of the D.C. area to get to the parade route, as parking is scarce in the city even under normal circumstances. The Federal Triangle, Archives/Navy Memorial, and Smithsonian Metro stops are closest to the parade’s starting point.