This year’s Tops St. Patrick’s Day Parade will take place Saturday, March 14, so it’s time to dust off your green wardrobe.
The procession will feature marchers, four bands from all over New York State, six Irish dance schools, fire trucks, floats and more.
In its 49th year, the parade averages between 40,000 and 60,000 people in attendance annually.
St. Patrick’s Day Parade route in Rochester, NY
The parade will begin at 12:30 p.m. at the corner of East Avenue and Alexander Street, proceed down East Avenue to the Liberty Pole, then head west on Main Street, ending at Fitzhugh Street.
St. Patrick’s Day Parade street closures
The following street closes at 7 a.m. and will reopen following the parade around 3:30 p.m.:
The following streets close at 10 a.m. and will re-open as the last runners move down the course. All affected streets should fully re-open by noon:
In addition to the parade route, the following streets will be closed until about 3:30 p.m.:
St. Patrick’s Day parking in Rochester, NY
Free parking will be available all day in the Mortimer Street Garage, Sister Cities Garage and the High Falls Garage.
Free parking will be available until 4 p.m. in the Washington Square Garage, South Avenue Garage, Court Street Garage and the East End Garage.
Metered street parking is free downtown on the weekends. However, it will be prohibited along the parade route and the Runnin’ of the Green course starting at 6 a.m. on parade day. The prohibited meters will be bagged.
St. Patrick’s Day Parade honorees in Rochester, NY
Every year, the parade honors community members and organizations in Rochester. The 2026 honorees are:
Celtic Family Faire at St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Rochester, NY
The 2026 Celtic Family Faire will be held at parade headquarters, the Hilton Garden Inn, 155 E. Main St., from 1 to 4 p.m.
The event will feature the Seneca Park Zoo’s ZooMobile, a photobooth, Irish dancers and other family-oriented activities. The event is alcohol-free. Food and drink will be available for purchase at the hotel.
The Runnin’ of the Green in Rochester, NY
The Runnin’ of the Green — a 5-mile foot race presented by the YMCA and the University of Rochester Medical Center and organized by Rochester Running Company — begins at 9:30 a.m. on parade day. The course starts and finishes at Parcel 5 and travels along the Genesee River.
If you’re interested in participating but cannot attend in person, there is a virtual participation option also. Registration ends online at 9:30 a.m.
For more, go to runninofthegreen.com.
For more parade information, go to rochesterparade.com.
— As a Rochester native, Justice Marbury entered the world of journalism to create work where voices like hers were heard — the voices of minority communities. Marbury covers small businesses, neighborhood concerns, and the interesting people who live in Rochester’s vibrant neighborhoods. As the 19th Ward reporter, she has helped implement community outreach ideas by asking what people in various communities want to read about themselves in addition to regular news. Contact her on Instagram @justice_marburyand by email at jmarbury@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Rochester St. Patrick’s Day Parade 2026: Parking, time and event details
Reporting by Justice Marbury, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle / Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
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