St Patrick's Day in Dublin: the 17 March parade and five days of festival
Every year in mid-March, Dublin turns green, and the city center becomes one big stage for a few days. It is the country's main holiday, and people come from all over the world for it.
The parade on March 17 starts at 12:00 and runs from Parnell Square to the intersection of Cuffe Street and Kevin Street (route and map).
Here is what you should know before the trip: how the festival works, where to stand along the route, what happens in the pubs, and how to avoid having your day ruined by crowds and March weather.
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What happens in Dublin in March
💡 In short:
- The festival runs for five days, from March 13 to 17, 2027 (dates on the official website).
- There is one main day: on Wednesday, March 17, the parade starts at 12:00 and follows a 3.2 km route (parade page).
- Watching from the street is free, and paid grandstand seats go on sale on September 28, 2026 (seat sales).
- Dates, route, and seat sales: 09/2026, verified on the official festival website).
The festival lasts not one day but five: during these days the city fills up with street concerts, theater, the Irish language, and family programs for guests of all ages. Organizers publish the 2027 schedule in January (official website). Weekdays during the festival are calmer: midweek crowds are smaller than on weekends.
The parade: route and when to arrive
The national parade moves in a straight line through the entire center: starting at Parnell Square, down O'Connell Street, across O'Connell Bridge, through the south side of the city, and finishing at the corner of Cuffe Street and Kevin Street (route line). The start is always the same, at 12:00, and it is worth double-checking the time the day before your trip. Verified on 09/15/2026 on the official festival website.
Six grandstands are set up along the route: these are covered tiers with numbered seats, and hosts provide commentary on the parade (grandstand details). The parade features international marching bands, floats, and ceremonial groups (about the parade). Leading the procession is a participant dressed as Saint Patrick, followed by dance troupes.
Grandstand | Location | What you see |
|---|---|---|
Parnell Square | at the start of the route, above the Garden of Remembrance | the opening of the parade and the first groups |
Emerald Circle | on O'Connell Street, by the GPO | the ceremonial opening and the main floats |
O'Connell Bridge | on the bridge over the Liffey | performers crossing the river, the most packed part of the show |
Westmoreland Street | south of the bridge, near Temple Bar | the parade flow and the entry into the city center |
Christ Church | by the Leonardo Hotel | a grandstand opposite the cathedral, which is over 1,000 years old |
Saint Patrick's Cathedral | next to the cathedral | the end of the route at the baptism site |
Grandstand tickets go on sale on September 28, 2026, and prices will be announced the same day (sales terms).
If you are not paying for a seat, arrive early: by midday the barriers are already packed (viewing spots along the route). The best free viewing spots: the start at Parnell Square, the approach to O'Connell Bridge, and the southern part of the route. The catch with the center is that after the parade you step out into the thickest crowd.
A green city and the shamrock
During the festival, building facades are lit up in green, and visitors put on green outfits and paint their faces and even beards green. The symbol of the holiday is the shamrock, drawn on hands, cheeks, and hats. By tradition, the shamrock represents the unity of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit and is linked to the baptism of Ireland.
For the Irish, this day remains a religious one: in the morning people typically go to church and gather around the national table. The parade starts at 12:00, so go to the morning service early. Leave the evening for music in the pubs.
In the evening: pubs, music, and food
Visitors are also introduced to the national cuisine. Pubs serve their signature dishes: Quick Irish Stew with a special kind of bread, baked goods, apple tart, and punch with ice cream. Look for a table for the evening during the day, because after the parade there are almost no free spots left in the center.
While the city waits for the evening program, take a Dublin tour on GetYourGuide and see the city with a guide.
© 瑞丽江的河水 · CC BY-SAPhoto: 瑞丽江的河水, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0), Wikimedia CommonsPracticalities: transport, weather, and crowds
On parade day the center is closed to cars, so leave your car on the outskirts. You can get there by Luas, DART, or bus, and the organizers have put together travel options and street closures in the Getting Here section (getting to the center).
March in Dublin is damp and windy, so bring a raincoat and shoes you do not mind getting dirty. An umbrella only gets in the way in a crowd, and you will be standing along the route for a long time, so dress in layers and bring a thermos.
If you are traveling with children, stand at the edge of the crowd and stay away from intersections where the procession stops. After the parade the center fills up, and the fastest way out is on foot. Accommodation for parade day gets booked up well in advance, and prices on these dates are higher than usual.
⁉️🤔 Frequently asked questions
When is Saint Patrick's Day in Dublin?
The holiday is celebrated on March 17, and the date does not change from year to year. The festival program is published in January on the official website.
Do you need to buy a ticket to watch the parade?
No, the sidewalks along the route are free, while paid grandstands provide a roof, a seat, and commentary from a host (how the grandstands work).
Where is the best place to stand along the route?
Good spots are near the start at Parnell Square, on the approach to O'Connell Bridge, and on the southern part of the route (parade map).
What should you do if it rains?
The parade is not canceled, so bring a raincoat and waterproof shoes, and don't rely on an umbrella. Pubs in the center are open all day and serve as shelter, but it's better to grab a table in advance.
How long does the festival last?
Five days, from March 13 to 17, 2027. There is one parade, and around it there are concerts, street performances, and family programs (festival dates).
In short: what to book
If you want guaranteed seats, buy a grandstand spot (grandstand tickets). If you're traveling on a budget, watch the parade from the sidewalk and put your money into accommodation: hotel prices in Dublin on Trip.com can be seen in advance. If you're traveling with children, choose the southern part of the route: it's quieter there and closer to the finish.
Get spots by the barrier in the morning, and book accommodation for parade day several months in advance.
A small editorial team writing guides for independent travel. We travel ourselves, but we haven’t been everywhere, so we check prices, opening hours and how to get there against official sources.