The Philadelphia St Patrick's Day Parade has run continuously since 1771 — making it one of the oldest St Patrick's Day parades in the world, older than the United States itself. In 2027, it steps off Sunday, March 14th at 11:30am.
The route (unchanged since 2018)
The parade forms at 16th & JFK Boulevard, marches west up the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, and ends at Eakins Oval in front of the Philadelphia Museum of Art. It's about 1.2 miles of route and takes roughly two-and-a-half hours to fully pass any given spot.
The best viewing spots
Between 20th and 22nd on the Parkway is the sweet spot — you're close enough to see the Irish dance troupes and hear the pipers, but not so close to the start that you're waiting an hour for anything to happen. Eakins Oval itself is packed but has the best final-approach view.
What to bring
It's mid-March in Philadelphia. Bring layers, a thermos, and — if you have kids — folding chairs. The parade tolerates coolers. Local Fairmount pubs (Bishop's Collar, The Trestle Inn) open early and are the go-to warm-up spots.
Getting there
SEPTA. Do not drive. The Broad Street Line to Fairmount station drops you two blocks from the route. Street parking is a fantasy on parade day.
After the parade
Post-parade, the crowd migrates south to Rittenhouse for the Erin Express bar crawl. It's a fifteen-minute walk from Eakins Oval to Cavanaugh's.