Cleveland 2022 St. Patrick's Day Parade: What To Know

CLEVELAND — The iconic Cleveland St. Patrick's Day Parade will return Thursday, ending a two-year hiatus brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.

With thousands of people expected to both participate and attend the parade, Cleveland Police will start shutting down certain streets at 9 a.m. The department shared a map of planned closures online.

Luckily, it should be a beautiful day, with clear blue skies and warmer-than-usual temperatures. Here's everything you need to know about this year's parade:

When: The parade steps off at 1:04 p.m. The national anthems of Ireland and the U.S. will be performed at 1 p.m.

Where: The parade will begin on Superior Ave. at E. 18th St. and will end at the intersection of Rockwell Ave. and Ontario St., according to the parade website.

How to Watch: If you can't attend this year's parade, you can watch the festivities live on TV20's Facebook page.

Forecast: Temperatures in the upper 60s or low 70s during the afternoon, with sunny, clear skies. Some clouds may roll in overnight and temperatures could drop into the mid-40s by midnight.

Alcohol: Consumption of adult beverages in the staging area or along the parade route is strictly prohibited, the organizers said. Police will enforce the rule throughout the day.

Bathrooms: Port-a-Potties will be placed along Superior Avenue and at Mall A.

With downtown likely to be flooded with people, Cleveland Police and parade organizers have created a Child Reunification Center at Cleveland Police Headquarters at the Justice Center, 1300 Ontario St., Cleveland.

Parade organizers offered the following tips to families bringing children downtown for the festivities:

• Write your name and phone number on your child's wrist and cover it with a band-aid to prevent it getting smeared. If possible, have your child memorize your cell phone number.
• Take a picture of your child before heading out. This will help authorities locate your child quickly because they'll know what they were wearing and what they looked like on the day of the event.
• Talk to your children about staying together and what to do if you get separated.