2025 Philadelphia St Patrick's Day Parade: What You Need To Know

PHILADELPHIA — Philadelphia's annual St. Patrick's Day Parade will step off at 11 a.m. Sunday and celebrate the rich Irish history of the Philadelphia region.

This year's parade will feature a new rout and performance area. The parade will begin at 16 Street and John F. Kennedy Boulevard. It will end in front of the Philadelphia Museum of Art at Eakins Oval.

Below is the 2025 parade route:

See parking restriction and road closure details for the parade online here.

This year's grand marshal is Paddy Rooney, owner of Paddy Rooney's Pub in Havertown. Rooney hails from County Down in Northern Ireland.

Before the parade begins at 11 a.m., a mass will be held at 9 a.m. at St. Patrick's Church, 242 S. 20th St. Archbishop Nelson Perez and Chaplain Father Kevin Gallagher will lead the mass. The procession will be led by Joe Tobin and the Philadelphia Emerald Society Pipe Band. Music will be provided by Bishop Shanahan High School Choir and Cantor Karen Boyce McCollum.

The theme for this year's parade is "Bless Those Dedicated to Serving Others."

Check out the line of march online here.

The following awards will be given out to parade participants:

• Hon James H. J. Tate Award — Award given to the group that best exemplifies the Spirit of the Parade
• Msgr. Thomas J. Rilley Award — Award given to the Outstanding Marching Unit of Fraternal Organizations
• George Costello Award — Award given to the organization with an Outstanding Float
• Vincent A. Carroll Award — Award given to an Outstanding Music Unit, excluding grade school
• Anthony J. Ryan Award — Award given to an Outstanding Grade School Band
• Walter Garvin Award — Award given to an Outstanding Children's Irish Dance Group
• Marie C. Burns Award — Award given to an Outstanding Adult Dance Group
• Joseph E. Montgomery Award — Award given to an outstanding AOH and/or LAOH Divisions
• Joseph J. “Banjo” McCoy Award — Award given to an outstanding Fraternal Organization
• James F. Cawley Parade Director’s Award — Award given to an Organization for an Outstanding Irish Performance or Display
• Father Kevin C. Trautner Award — Award given to an outstanding School or Religious Organization that displays their Irish Heritage while promoting Christian Values
• Maureen McDade McGrory Award — Award given to an Outstanding Children's Irish Dance Group Exemplifying the Spirit of Irish Culture through Traditional Dance
• James P. "Jim" Kilgallen Award — Award given to an Outstanding organization that best exemplifies the preservation of Irish-American unity through charitable endeavors to assist those less fortunate at home and abroad.
• Mary Theresa Dougherty Award — Award given to an outstanding organization dedicated to serving the needs of God's people in the community.
• Paul J. Phillips Jr. Award — Award given to the outstanding parade marshal.
• Phillip 'Knute' Bonner Award — Award given to the outstanding organization dedicated to preserve our freedom and protect us through sacrifice and compassion for others.
• Joseph J. Bradley Award — Outstanding dance group for originality and artistic interpretation of Irish Dance.
• Thomas C. Finnegan Award — Most spirited group of parade spectators showing pride of heritage.

Judges will examine:

• Appearance — Orderly marching, walking; Appropriate attire (uniform, Irish, etc.).
• Music — Irish or Theme Related; Live Band.
• Dance — Presentation; Costumes, Uniformity.
• Form — Presentation at reviewing stand; orderly, time limit, line formation, professional.
• Theme — Is the theme of the Parade displayed? How is this presented?

Five points is the highest in each category, and a maximum score is 25 points.

Each judge scores each group individually. Total scores of each judge for each category are discussed, and comments are shared regarding the criteria. Total highest points combined is the winner.

Floats are usually associated with an organization, but each float is judged independently of this group. Comments are especially important in this area as to the details such as painting, music, appearance, portrayal of theme.

Bands that are not signed up as independent marching units, are not eligible for awards, but are considered part of a group, when judging an entire group.

The 2025 St. Patrick's Ring of Honor includes:

• Kellie Farrelly
• Mary Doyle Funchion
• Pete Hand
• Kevin Haney
• Kevin Hassett
• Cathleen Brady Lynskey
• Lisa Maloney
• Brian Monaghan

The St. Patrick’s Day Parade will be broadcast live on CW Philly 57 from noon to 3 p.m. and will also stream live from noon to 3 p.m. on CBS News Philadelphia. The parade will be broadcast again on Monday from 9 a.m. until noon on CBS Philadelphia.

A replay of the parade will be aired on St. Patrick’s Day beginning at noon on Philly57 and the CBS Philadelphia stream.

The parade will be held rain or shine.