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Philadelphia St. Patrick’s Day Parade 2026: Route, road closures, and how to watch

The 2026 Philadelphia St. Patrick’s Day Parade arrives March 15. Here’s the parade route, road closures, parking restrictions, SEPTA detours, and how to watch live or online.

Ryan Walsh records his niece performing with the McDade-Cara School of Irish Dance in Newtown Square during the annual Philadelphia St. Patrick's Day Parade on Mar. 16, 2025.
Ryan Walsh records his niece performing with the McDade-Cara School of Irish Dance in Newtown Square during the annual Philadelphia St. Patrick's Day Parade on Mar. 16, 2025. Read moreTom Gralish / Staff Photographer

Sunday marks the return of the city’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade, a Philly tradition dating back more than 250 years.

Parade route
Parade weather
St. Patrick’s Day Parade road closures
St. Patrick’s Day parking restrictions
How to get to the St. Patrick’s Day Parade
How to watch the St. Patrick’s Day Parade from home

Organized by the Philadelphia St. Patrick’s Day Observance Association, the event annually draws around 20,000 participants and thousands of spectators to the Center City area.

Like any sizable city event, the parade will also cause various disruptions, shutting down a sizable portion of the city to traffic and affecting some public transportation routes.

Here’s everything you need to know in the lead-up to parade day.

Friends from Ireland, Carl McAllorm (from left), Ronan McNamara, Greg Toolis, and Colm McDonald march together in the annual Philadelphia St. Patrick's Day Parade on Mar. 16, 2025.
Friends from Ireland, Carl McAllorm (from left), Ronan McNamara, Greg Toolis, and Colm McDonald march together in the annual Philadelphia St. Patrick's Day Parade on Mar. 16, 2025.Read moreTom Gralish / Staff Photographer

Parade route

The parade begins at 11:15 a.m., kicking off at 16th Street and John F. Kennedy Boulevard. It then moves eastbound on Market Street to Penn’s Landing, concluding at approximately 3 p.m.

The grandstands and main performance area will be at 5th and Market streets.

Parade weather

As of Wednesday, AccuWeather predicts a mild and mostly cloudy parade day, with a high of 58 degrees and wind gusts of more than 20 miles-per-hour.

Olivia Lisowski leads her charges with the Jordan-Hunt School of Irish Dance in Erdenheim during the annual Philadelphia St. Patrick's Day Parade on Mar. 16, 2025.
Olivia Lisowski leads her charges with the Jordan-Hunt School of Irish Dance in Erdenheim during the annual Philadelphia St. Patrick's Day Parade on Mar. 16, 2025. Read moreTom Gralish / Staff Photographer

St. Patrick’s Day Parade road closures

Starting at 5:30 a.m. (until approximately 4 p.m.)

  1. Market Street between 6th and 5th streets

Starting at 9 a.m. (until approximately 3:30 p.m.)

  1. John F. Kennedy Boulevard between 20th and 15th streets

  2. 20th Street between Market and Arch streets

  3. 19th Street between Market and Arch streets

  4. 18th Street between Market and Arch streets

  5. 17th Street between Market and Arch streets

  6. 16th Street between Market and Arch streets

  7. 15th Street between Market and Arch streets

Starting at 10:30 a.m. (until approximately 3:30 p.m.)

  1. John F. Kennedy Boulevard between 15th and Juniper streets

  2. Juniper Street between John F. Kennedy Boulevard and Market Street

  3. Market Street between Juniper and 2nd streets

  4. All cross streets on Market Street from 13th to 5th streets, between Chestnut and Arch streets

Ignatius Mullen, Jr. of Society Hill (green socks) marches in the annual Philadelphia St. Patrick's Day Parade on Mar. 16, 2025, with his Irish Jack Russel terrier who was bred in Connemara, in County Galway, Ireland.
Ignatius Mullen, Jr. of Society Hill (green socks) marches in the annual Philadelphia St. Patrick's Day Parade on Mar. 16, 2025, with his Irish Jack Russel terrier who was bred in Connemara, in County Galway, Ireland. Read moreTom Gralish / Staff Photographer

St. Patrick’s Day parking restrictions

Parking restrictions will be in effect on parade day, and the city has warned that violators will have their vehicles “relocated.” The city encourages anyone whose vehicle is relocated to call the police district in the area where the vehicle was parked.

The following streets have been deemed “temporary no parking” zones on parade day:

From 6 a.m. to 3 p.m.

  1.  1400-2000 block of John F. Kennedy Boulevard

From 5 a.m. to 3 p.m.

  1. 5th Street between Chestnut and Market streets

  2. 6th Street between Chestnut and Race streets

  3. Race Street between 5th and 6th streets

  4. Market Street from Juniper to 2nd streets

The Cavan Society of Philadelphia’s float in the annual Philadelphia St. Patrick's Day Parade on Mar. 16, 2025 follows the parade theme, a tribute to first responders: “St. Patrick, Bless Those Dedicated to Serving Others.”
The Cavan Society of Philadelphia’s float in the annual Philadelphia St. Patrick's Day Parade on Mar. 16, 2025 follows the parade theme, a tribute to first responders: “St. Patrick, Bless Those Dedicated to Serving Others.”Read moreTom Gralish / Staff Photographer

How to get to the St. Patrick’s Day Parade

  1. Regional Rail: Arrive at Jefferson or Suburban Station — both within walking distance of the parade.

  2. Broad Street Line & Market-Frankford Line: Get off at City Hall Station for easy access.

  3. PATCO: Those taking PATCO into the city should exit at the 8th/Market Street Station and follow the blue concourse signs roughly a block to the Market-Frankford Line.

Meanwhile, several SEPTA bus routes will be detoured from 5 a.m. until approximately 5 p.m., including:

  1. 17, 27, 31, 32, 33, 38, 44, 47, 48, 61, 124 and 125 

The Eagles Pep Band rides - with a replica of the Lombardi Trophy - and performs in the annual Philadelphia St. Patrick's Day Parade on Mar. 16, 2025.
The Eagles Pep Band rides - with a replica of the Lombardi Trophy - and performs in the annual Philadelphia St. Patrick's Day Parade on Mar. 16, 2025.Read moreTom Gralish / Staff Photographer

How to watch the St. Patrick’s Day Parade from home

  1. Live broadcast: Philly 57 from noon to 3 p.m.

  2. Livestream: CBS News Philadelphia from noon to 3 p.m.

  3. Rebroadcast: CBS Philadelphia on Tuesday, March 17, from 9 a.m. to noon.