The World’s First St. Patrick Parade was in St. Augustine in 1601!

Festival Day kicks off with the only St. Patrick Parade in Northeast Florida on Saturday March 9 at 10 AM!
The Parade marches to huge crowds all around downtown St. Augustine!
The parade finishes at the festival site on Francis Field.  You won’t want to miss it!

Time: Saturday March 9 at 10:00 AM (Celtic Festival Opening Day)
Where: Downtown St Augustine
Click to open Parade Route PDF
Presented by: Romanza-St. Augustine, Inc., a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization

2024 PARADE REGISTRATION BEGINS JANUARY 15

$75 for Commercial or Non-Commercial Group Entry

Accredited K-12 Schools or College Groups Admitted FREE but must still register

If you have questions, please contact:  [email protected]

Please see Parade Rules below.

2024 PROFESSIONAL PIPES & DRUMS BANDS

City of St. Augustine Pipes & Drums

Coastal Florida Pipes & Drums

Daytona Beach Pipes & Drums

Jacksonville Fire & Rescue Dept. Pipes & Drums

The Colonial Navy of Massachusetts Fife & Drum Corps

and special guests from Spain

Corvera d’Asturies Pipe Band

2024 PARADE ANNOUNCER

Jessica Clark, award-winning journalist and First Coast News WTLV-TV news anchor

2024 PARADE JUDGES

Amy Hendrickson, award-winning acoustic solo songwriter & vocalist 

Dr. Roger Smith, St. Augustine Historical Society historian, history professor at Flagler College, and Director of the St. Augustine History Festival 

Renee Unsworth, photographer, social media manager and founder of TotallyStAugustine.com 

Doug and Courtney Murr, owners of Dog Rose Brewery where handcrafted ales and lagers are brewed with style and tradition in mind

 

Our historic celebration is the site of the World’s First St. Patrick Parade and is the only St. Patrick Parade in Northeast Florida!

Historic Facts:

  • 1600 was the first recorded St. Patrick Celebration in America
  • 1601 was the first recorded St. Patrick Parade in the World
  • This all happened — not in Boston, not in New York,
    not even in Ireland — but here in St. Augustine, FL!

Click here for our story as written in Irish Central.com

“Where is the oldest St. Patrick’s Day celebration in the world? Step aside Boston and New York…”

THE 2024 PARADE GRAND MARSHAL IS

COMPASSIONATE ST. AUGUSTINE

Compassionate St. Augustine (CSA) embodies the spirit of compassion and generosity that defines St. Augustine. Focused on turning empathy into action, this local non-profit organization has touched the lives of many, leaving an indelible mark on the community.

From combatting food insecurity through their Gift Gardens to their Good Trouble initiative that advocates for unity and change to address the community’s needs, CSA brings tremendous value to our city and its neighborhoods. 

About Compassionate St. Augustine
Compassionate St. Augustine is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization in St. Augustine Florida. Our vision is to inspire others to make a positive impact by fostering a culture of compassion. The organization calls on individuals, communities, and organizations to promote compassion in all aspects of life. It seeks to foster a global movement of individuals dedicated to living by the principles of compassion, empathy, and the Golden Rule. For more information about our initiatives, visit https://www.compassionatestaugustine.org.

Parade Rules

Units must pay attention to the Parade Marshals and their directions. They are there to make sure things go smoothly

Units must be decorated and in the theme of St. Patrick’s Day – the greener the better.

This event is a celebration of Celtic music and heritage, and not for political statement, causes or agendas

Motor units can be no wider than 8.5 feet and 13.5 feet tall, per the FDOT manual for commercial motor vehicles, chapter 11

Units shall report at their designated time on the route, not before. This enables a smooth loading of the units on the street

Vehicles towing floats must be dependable and mechanically sound

Trailers and flatbeds must be skirted, and no one may hang their legs, arms, or anything else over the side

Pickup trucks do NOT qualify as a “float”entry

All horses MUST have a pooper scooper for each group. Carriage horses MUST have a bag

Everyone should maintain a FORWARD motion at all times. No stopping to perform or interact with the crowds as this will cause gaps along the way

Abide by flag protocols. The United States flag is always first and highest

We reserve the right to remove you from the Parade if the rules set forth above are not followed

To ensure everyone is safety, passengers must remain on floats or vehicles at all times. You may not jump off or on a vehicle, float, train, or trolley on the parade route

No skateboards

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