Photo by Michael Yatsko Photography
March is the luckiest month to be in downtown Harrisburg! With a calendar packed full of activities, festivals, and celebrations, there’s something happening nearly every weekend. Leading the excitement is the annual Harrisburg St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Held on Saturday, March 21, starting at 2 p.m. in downtown Harrisburg, the parade features a lively mix of community groups, marching bands, dancers, performers, and colorful characters. Each year, it draws thousands of spectators from across the Commonwealth who line the streets to celebrate Irish heritage and enjoy one of the city’s most beloved spring traditions.
Photo by Michael Yatsko Photography
Bicyclists and bicycle enthusiasts are encouraged to join the Harrisburg Bicycle Club as they pedal along the nearly one-mile-long parade route. Spectators can also look forward to the return of classic and unique cars from the Blue Moon Cruisers Association, along with appearances from the Harrisburg Senators and dancers from the McGinley School of Irish Dance and Carraig School of Irish Dance. The iconic sounds of bagpipes will once again fill the streets with performances from the Ceol Neamh Pipe Band and the Nittany Highland Pipe and Drum Band, bringing a touch of the Scottish Highlands to Harrisburg. Fans of a galaxy far, far away will enjoy spotting characters from the Central PA Jedi-Sith Alliance, while animal lovers can meet adoptable dogs marching with the Humane Society of Harrisburg Area. One of the most exciting additions this year is a special appearance by the iconic Oscar Mayer Wienermobile. With more than 50 groups participating and announcer RJ Harris returning to emcee the festivities, this year’s parade promises plenty of fun and surprises along the route for everyone.
For continued updates on the parade, follow the Facebook event page.
Lucky Charm Race
Prior to the parade is the Lucky Charm 4-Miler, starting at noon. Runners are welcomed and encouraged to stay for the parade festivities after they are finished with the race! For more race info or to register to run, please visit https://runsignup.com/Race/PA/Harrisburg/LuckyCharm5k10k
Parade Route
Other Celebrations
The St. Patrick’s Day celebration continues throughout the day in downtown Harrisburg with several parade-day events before and after the festivities. Start the morning with “Kegs and Eggs” at McGrath's Irish Pub or JB Lovedraft's, where early risers can enjoy breakfast and drinks before the parade kicks off.
After the parade begins at 2pm, the celebration carries on with St. Patrick’s-themed parties across the city, including festivities at Bourbon Street Saloon, Sawyer's, and Nocturnal. Music lovers can also head to Capital City Music Hall for a lively “Battle of the Bands,” keeping the St. Patrick’s Day energy going well into the evening
Join Crawl With Us for a bar crawl across the city from 4pm to 10pm. This festive crawl includes 2–3 drinks or shots, exclusive drink and food specials at select venues plus more! Get all the details here.
Parking
For visitors, the Market Square parking garage (on Second and Chestnut streets) will be offering $10 event parking from 9am to 9pm. Free parking is also available after 5pm in the downtown district. Roads will be closed for the parade route starting at 9am on the East Shore, and the Market Street Bridge will be accessible only to parade participants by 11am on the West Shore entrance.
