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 opens 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.

Special Guests for 2026

Gordon J. Wilson is this year's Parade Marshall. Wilson served in the U.S. Park Service for nearly 50 years, and recently retired as the Superintendent of the Castillo de San Marcos and Fort Matanzas National Monuments. 

This year, St. Augustine's St. Patrick's Parade features two special marching units: The New York City Fire Department Emerald Society Pipes and Drums and the Parkview Lassies from Springfield, Missouri. The members of the FDNY Emerald Society Pipes and Drums are all active or retired firefighters, and the band's mission is to play at every funeral and memorial service for the first responders who lost their lives in the September 11th attacks on the World Trade Center, 25 years ago this year. The Parkview Lassies are a drum and bugle corps from Springfield, Missouri. Generations of Parkview Lassies have represented Parkview High School in the drum and bugle corps for 70 years.

The Parade Route

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 from the sidewalks along the parade route.

When: 10:00 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday, March 14, 2026.

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

Free Park-and-Ride Shuttle for 2026 Festivals

The City of St. Augustine provides a free park-and-ride shuttle service downtown during the peak spring break and festival season. 

For a no-cost, easy entry and exit from the Historic Downtown, use the free park-and-ride shuttles. The shuttle service starts at 11:00 a.m. on select Saturdays in March and April 2026, with an 8:00 a.m. start during the two parade days, March 14 and April 4, 2026.

Free parking is available at 198 & 212 West King Street, at the intersection of U.S. 1 and King Street—known as "Broudy's Lot." From there, shuttles run continuously until 9:00 p.m. each Saturday, dropping off and picking up people at the Visitor Information Center.

Paid parking is available at the downtown parking garage, next to Francis Field, on South Castillo Drive. Parking is available in the garage for cars displaying a handicap plate or placard. 

The full 2026 Park-and-Ride Shuttle Schedule

The start times of shuttle operation vary by date:

• Saturday, March 7, from 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 pm.
• Saturday, March 14, from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. (St. Patrick's Parade)
• Saturday, March 21, from 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
• Saturday, March 28, from 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
• Saturday, April 4, from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. (Easter Parade)