The Pittsburgh St. Patrick's Day Parade steps off this Saturday, March 15.
The annual parade, organizers note, has been a staple for the city of Pittsburgh dating back to the mid-1800s.
According to Michael R. Murphy, some of the earliest records of St. Patrick’s Day parades in the city of Pittsburgh date back to 1869 and, from the beginning, the parade featured a number of Irish groups.
In 1871, the “Confederated Irishmen of Lawrenceville,” a group made up of 175 men, proudly marched while wearing sashes proclaiming “God Save Ireland.”
The parades of the past typically ended at St. Paul’s Cathedral Parades and never took place on Sundays. The routes have changed drastically over the years.
Over the years, the Pittsburgh St. Patrick's Day Parade has evolved in scope and planning until it formed what it is today, the third-largest St. Patrick’s Day parade in the country.
Organizers say that with approximately 1/5th of the Pittsburgh metropolitan community claiming Irish heritage, it is no wonder the city boasts one of the largest St. Patrick’s Day celebrations in the country.
Irish step dancers, marching bands, military members, community organizations, and even Punxsutawney Phil are just a few of the participants who march down Grant Street every year on the Saturday before St. Patrick’s Day.
When is the Pittsburgh St. Patrick's Day Parade 2025?
The Pittsburgh St. Patrick’s Day Parade 2025 is scheduled for Saturday, March 15.
The Pittsburgh St. Patrick’s Day Parade is held the Saturday before St. Patrick’s Day (March 17), unless St. Patrick’s Day falls on a Saturday, in which case the parade is on St. Patrick’s Day.
What time is the Pittsburgh St. Patrick's Day Parade 2025?
The parade begins at 10 am and takes approximately 3.5 hours to complete.
What is the route of the Pittsburgh St. Patrick's Day Parade 2025?
Parade formation begins at the Greyhound Bus Station at the intersection of Liberty Avenue and 11th Street. Staging takes place from the bus station and away from Downtown to 26th Street.
The parade proceeds from the intersection of Liberty and 11th Streets to Grant Street to the Boulevard of the Allies, where it turns right.
The parade proceeds on the Boulevard of the Allies to the Reviewing Stand at Stanwix Street, then disburses at Commonwealth Place.
Who is the Grand Marshal of the Pittsburgh St. Patrick's Day Parade 2025?
Jeff “Mac” McCafferty, who was born in the Carrick neighborhood of Pittsburgh, is the Grand Marshal of the Pittsburgh St. Patrick's Day Parade 2025.
Organizers say that McCafferty has joked that despite his surname, he did not know of his Irish heritage until he was in his thirties. Following his ancestral discovery, Mac joined the board at the Irish Centre of Pittsburgh and served it for over 35 years.
Mac has also served as a dedicated member of the Pittsburgh St. Patrick’s Day Parade committee for over 30 years, filling the prominent roles of both Chief Marshal and Chairman.
Additionally, Mac is a member of the Knights of Equity and the Ancient Order of Hibernians – both Catholic fraternal associations that work toward the preservation and representation of Irish culture within America and internationally. He is also on the Years of Remembrance Committee, which continues to call attention to the Great Famine and its effects that are still felt today in Ireland, as well as the Irish American Unity Conference, which works toward finding unity and peace in Ireland.
He also served a short term as team trainer for the Banshees, Pittsburgh’s women’s Gaelic Football club, a part of the Pittsburgh Gaelic Athletic Association.