Ireland's National St. Patrick's Festival has launched its 2025 programme, including details on its world-famous parade in Dublin on Monday, March 17.
The theme of this year’s global celebration of Irish arts, culture, and heritage is Adventures (Eachtraí), representing the famed and legendary adventurous spirit that lives inside us all, known and loved the world over as a defining symbol of Irishness.
It is that innate ability as a nation to transform fear into courage, face any challenge head-on, and turn it into an adventure, forging new paths as we go.
This year’s St. Patrick’s Festival invites locals and visitors alike to a celebration like no other across a city of tales, trails, and treasures, where every street tells a story of history, of magic, of adventures.
All are welcome to experience the world-famous parade, immersive on-street performances, and the cultural delights of a city bursting with life.
Guests can expect a huge celebration of Irish culture throughout the weekend, from captivating street theatre to comedy that fills the city streets with joy and laughter, awe-inspiring circus performances, family-friendly areas, neurodivergent friendly performances, a lively Céilí Mór located at the beautiful Merrion Square on March 17, and everything in between!
The National St. Patrick's Day Parade in Dublin - March 17, 2025
This year’s National St. Patrick’s Day Parade, driven by the values of joy, community, diversity, and sustainability, promises to be the most joyful yet, bringing more experiences, laughter, spectacle, and delight to those watching.
The iconic procession will feature Ireland’s foremost creative parade companies including Bui Bolg, Spraoi, Inishowen Carnival Group, The Outing Queer Arts Collective, Artastic, and Art FX, with a highly anticipated Parade return coming in the form of the beloved and legendary Macnas and Cork Puppetry Company!
St. Patrick's Festival Parade 2024: Spraoi, Bring em Back. (Ireland's Content Pool)
The 2025 parade in Dublin will also see a beautiful and meaningful collaboration between St. Patrick’s Festival and Pavee Point Traveller & Roma Centre who are celebrating 40 years of Pavee Point. This particular piece will honour the wagon wheel, a shared traditional focal point for both groups, and bring the two together as they share stories & skills between the two communities.
Meanwhile, Kia embarks on its fourth adventure as an official sponsor of the St. Patrick's Festival, with their support continuing to drive the festival’s success.
Dublin Zoo has also jumped on board with a larger-than-life twist on our theme of Adventures – expect surprises that’ll leave crowds roaring for more!
Noblesville Marching Band in the 2024 St. Patrick's Festival Parade in Dublin City. (Ireland's Content Pool)
With half a million spectators expected to line this year’s route, the Parade will feature over 23 artistic parade performances and ceremonial unit displays, 10 community group performances (as part of the St. Patrick's Festival Community Arts Programme), and 12 marching bands from across Ireland, North America, and Austria.
Under the guidance of new Artistic Director Aoife Carry, the Festival has worked closely with all of the parade companies, drawing on their vast experience and utilising all of their unique talent and artistic flair to really bring the theme of Adventures to life.
After a huge uptake in attendance and extremely positive feedback from guests, St. Patrick’s Festival is thrilled to announce the return of the Dublin City Council Relaxed Parade Space for 2025, allowing neurodivergent members of our communities and their families to safely enjoy the festivities in a safe, sensory-friendly environment. The application for the Dublin City Council Relaxed Parade Space is now open and guests will be selected by lottery on February 17.
The 2024 St. Patrick's Festival Parade in Dublin City. (Ireland's Content Pool)
A limited number of Parade Grandstand Seats and Hospitality Packages can be purchased at StPatricksFestival.ie and for those that are unable to attend this year’s Parade, the full Parade will be broadcast nationally live on RTÉ One, and around the world on RTÉ Player.
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Ireland's National St. Patrick's Festival - Events Programme 2025
St. Patrick’s Festival is thrilled to launch the 2025 programme of events, with an immersive offering of interactive and awe-inspiring experiences taking place against the backdrop of our historic city.
This year, Dublin comes to life with events that celebrate the city, through a diverse and eclectic array of entertainment, on-street performances, and cultural experiences, with something for everyone, each and every way you turn!
This exciting new adventure places the Festival back into the beating heart of the City, delivering electric and joyous energy pulsing right across the weekend as Dublin transforms into a playground of discovery and wonder for all ages and interests, from the very best of our esteemed creative communities.
Lord Mayor of Dublin Emma Blain, center, at the launch of the National St. Patrick's Festival 2025.
Kicking off the festival will be the much-loved Dublin City Council Treasure Hunt which makes a triumphant return for 2025 and is guaranteed to be a hit with all ages. It's a perfect way to explore and rediscover Dublin City - more details to follow very soon!
For the remainder of the weekend, be sure to explore the city and catch acrobatic delights and juggling wonders with circus companies like Cikada Circus, Tumble Circus, Hands Down Circus, Symmetry Circus and Amadan Circus on city corners; dance on the pavement to tunes by Acid Granny and the Shamrock Show Band; or stop by to wonder and enjoy Team Fuinneamh or Moss Russell ‘Squish Stomp Spin’ (both neurodivergent friendly performances!)
Performance and visual art will surprise and delight all over the city, courtesy of talented creatives and cultural curators including interdisciplinary performing artist Elisa Gallo Rosso, multidisciplinary dancer and percussionist, Favour Odusola, illustrator and visual artist Harry Pizzey, and many more!
A performer at the 2024 St. Patrick's Festival in Dublin City. (Ireland's Content Pool)
While the streets teem with performance and adventure, there’s even more to be found across a plethora of iconic city locations, including the Wood Quay Amphitheatre, Wolfe Tone Square, Hugh Lane Gallery, Capel Street, Barnardo Square, and St. Stephen’s Green.
This is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the city while also supporting our workers across the arts, culture, heritage, festivals, entertainment, tourism, hospitality,y and accommodation industries, locally, nationally, and internationally. More details and announcements to follow on StPatricksFestival.ie over the coming weeks.
The 18th annual Aware Harbour2Harbour Walk takes place this St Patrick’s Day, Monday, March 17. Over 3,000 enthusiastic walkers are expected to take on the 26 km challenge with the option of starting at Howth or Dun Laoghaire Harbour and finishing at the opposite harbour.
Performers at the 2023 St. Patrick's Festival in Dublin City. (Ireland's Content Pool)
St. Patrick’s Festival is made possible through the continued support of the Government of Ireland, the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, the Department of Arts, Culture, Communications, Media and Sport, Fáilte Ireland, Dublin City Council, and many generous partners and funders.
See StPatricksFestival.ie for details and tickets. StPatricksFestival.ie will continue to be updated as more events are announced. Subscribe to the St. Patrick's Festival mailing list, and follow St. Patrick's Festival on Facebook, Instagram, X, TikTok, and YouTube.
