2026 St. Patrick's Parade

St. Augustine's St. Patrick's Parade steps off at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, March 14, 2026, at Francis Field. Each year, the parade starts the Celtic Music and Cultural Heritage Festival, held on the weekend before St. Patrick's Day.

America's Oldest City claims the honor of hosting the first St. Patrick's Day celebration and parade. In 1600, troops shot cannons and guns on the historically religious holiday in an impromptu event to honor a popular local Irish priest. In 1601, the community held the world's first recorded St. Patrick's Day Parade.

From Francis Field, the parade heads toward the bayfront on Orange Street and turns right onto South Castillo Drive. The parade turns right, again, onto Cathedral Place and returns to Francis Field via Cordova Street.

A spectacle of floats, marching bands, pipes and drums, horse-drawn carriages, military units, and local community groups, St. Augustine hosts the only St. Patrick's Parade in Northeast Florida.

Parade registration opens in November before the celebration. Visit here to register for a spot in the parade, or for more information.

This event is part of the St. Augustine Celtic Music and Heritage Festival.

All photos for this post are from the 2024 parade, by LeVeille. 

Admission: This event is free to view along the sidewalks of the parade route.

When: 10:00 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday, March 8, 2025

Where: The parade begins at Francis Field and follows this route:

Parking and Shuttle Services for 2025

Parking is available at the downtown parking garage right next to Francis Field.

The City of St. Augustine offers free shuttles for downtown events beginning Saturday, March 8, 2025.

All shuttles will drop people off and pick them up at the Visitor Information Center, at 10 S. Castillo Drive.

Free parking will be available at 198 & 212 West King Street, at the intersection of U.S. 1 and King Street - Known as "Broudy's Lot."

On Saturday, March 8, the shuttle will operate from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 pm.

For alternative parking options when the park-and-ride shuttle is not available, please visit here.