This year’s National St. Patrick’s Day Parade, driven by the values of community, diversity, youth and sustainability, will be the most ambitious ever, featuring breath-taking new artistic, interactive and aerial elements.
A major new opening pageant has been commissioned featuring a collaboration with St. Patrick’s Festival Community Arts pageant with Macnas, Junk Kouture, Discovery Gospel Choir, and a whole host of community groups, while the Festival continues to work with Ireland’s foremost creative pageant companies including Dublin Pride, Spraoi, Artastic, Inishowen Carnival and you might even spot some special Disney friends. This year, Buí Bolg and Kia are collaborating on an exciting new pageant entitled ‘The Future That Moves Us’ featuring an interactive AR element in the parade for the very first time. With half a million spectators expected to line this year’s route, the Parade will feature 7 creative pageants, 10 transitional showpiece performances, 15 marching bands from across Ireland, North America and Canada, and over 4,000 participants in what is shaping up to be the largest ever National St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
On our national day of cultural celebration, St. Patrick’s Festival invites those across the world to come together on Friday 17th March to collectively celebrate, share, laugh, perform, participate and remember that ‘MAR A CHÉILE SINN’ (WE ARE ONE).
Embracing that unifying and inspirational theme of ONE, the National St. Patrick’s Day Parade 2023 will shine a light on all the goodness that surrounds us. The theme acts as a reminder that when we act with dignity and respect as ONE, we can protect each other and our wonderful world. Ireland is known for its enduring traditions, culture and heritage, but our stories are also part of a unifying global culture, one which bonds us through music, storytelling, sport, nature and tradition, one which traverses borders and reminds us of our shared responsibility for the united care of our planet, protecting it for our future generations.
There is no better way to enjoy all the colour and spectacle of the St. Patrick’s Festival Parade than from the comfort of your own seat in one of our Grandstands.
Each Grandstand offers covered, tiered, allocated seating, strategically located at five different areas along the Parade route. See and experience the Parade from a unique location, as our Grandstand Hosts provide lively commentary to our guests, telling the story of the parade as it unfolds right in front of you.
Be among the first to see the performers in action as they commence their Parade journey!
Located at the very start of the Parade route, our Parnell Grandstands are situated on one of Dublin’s finest Georgian Squares overlooking the beautiful Garden of Remembrance.
Price: €100
For the first time ever, the public can now purchase Grandstand seats on O’Connell Street, Dublin’s main thoroughfare and the ceremonial centre of the Parade route. This Grandstand, located just outside the historic GPO, offers unparalleled views right at the heart of all the action on the Parade route.
These seats offer the best view to see the ceremonial opening of the Parade. Please note seat numbers are very limited for this magical experience.
Price: €250
Our Grandstands on Westmoreland Street, situated very close to O’Connell Bridge where the parade crosses over the River Liffey, offers wonderful views of the Parade. These Grandstands are ideally located for those wishing to explore the delights of a number of tourist attractions including Dublin’s lively and historic Temple Bar area.
Price: €120 - SOLD OUT
Situated just outside Jury’s Hotel, our Christchurch Grandstands provide a great location for those who are staying in this part of the city. The seats overlook the iconic Christchurch Cathedral which has stood in the heart of Dublin for over 1,000 years.
Price: €120 - SOLD OUT
These grandstands are located in a historic part of the city are right beside St. Patrick’s Cathedral. It is believed that the location where the Cathedral now stands was the site where St. Patrick baptised people into Christianity back in 450AD. Our St. Patrick’s Grandstands offer great views of the parade and are an ideal location for those staying in the numerous hotels nearby.
Price: €100 - SOLD OUT
We're also delighted to offer a number of special hospitality packages that will make your day all the more unforgettable including Grandstand tickets followed by a celebratory lunch. Treat yourself and your friends to a bucket-list experience this St. Patrick's Day!
This unique package offers guests the opportunity to view the iconic National Parade on St. Patrick's Day from specially reserved covered grandstands seats in Parnell Square, overlooking the Garden of Remembrance. After the Parade, guests will be guided to The Chocolate Factory for a delicious buffet-style lunch, accompanied by a lively performance of Irish traditional music. The event will be catered by the acclaimed Blas café as they bring their modern twist on traditional Irish food in this hidden cultural hub in the heart of Dublin city.
Price: €230
This luxury VIP St. Patrick's Parade Hospitality Package offers guests the opportunity to view the iconic National Parade on St. Patrick's Day from specially reserved covered grandstand seats on Westmoreland Street, a very popular area from which to view the parade.
Following the Parade, guests will be escorted to the beautiful surroundings of the Westin Hotel, a truly iconic 5-star hotel that blends contemporary chic with the historic grandeur of Dublin city.
There you will be welcomed to the opulent and historic Banking Hall for a post-Parade delicious buffet lunch of classic Irish fare, accompanied by a live performance of authentic Irish traditional music.
Price: €250 - SOLD OUT
This VIP St. Patrick's Parade Hospitality Package offers guests the opportunity to view the iconic National Parade on St. Patrick's Day from specially reserved covered grandstand seats located right beside St. Patrick’s Cathedral. These grandstands are particularly special, as they are located close to the very spot where St. Patrick himself is said to have blessed a well!
Following the Parade, guests will be guided to The Hyatt Centric based in one of the oldest parts of Dublin, The Liberties. A delicious BBQ lunch served in the Hyatt's stunning Poddle Garden will await you on your arrival whilst you continue your celebration of St. Patrick’s Day being entertained by a lively performance of Irish traditional music.
Price: €230 - SOLD OUT
We at St. Patrick's Festival strive to be helpful and facilitating where we can, to all those who come out to see the National Parade. We have a number of areas along the Parade route that are reserved for attendees that have additional needs.
We provide Wheelchair Accessible Viewing Areas along the Parade Route:
One on Westmoreland Street
One at St. Patrick's Cathedral
If you, a friend or family member are a wheelchair user, you can come and view the parade in one of our designated wheelchair viewing areas.
These areas are held for wheelchair users to give you some more space and comfort, whilst the parade goes by. Please note only those with wheelchair users will be granted access to these areas.
Please Note
We have now reached capacity for our Wheelchair Accessible Viewing Area and cannot accept any further applications.
If you have a debilitating condition or special access requirements, this is where “Priority Viewing” can help. This is another section of the Parade that we hold for those who may need more space, to enjoy the parade, this area is located on O’Connell Street.
Please Note
We have now reached capacity for our Priority Viewing area and cannot accept any further applications.
St. Patrick's Festival want to make our events fully accessible, for all to enjoy. We want to make it possible for disabled young people and adults to make memories at the National Parade.
In addition to the wheelchair portaloo at each of our Wheelchair areas, there will be an Accessloo with a hoist and changing bench made available for use. This will be parked up on D’Olier Street (Fleet St. Junction).
Whether you've been coming to the St. Patrick's Day Parade in Dublin for years or this is your first visit, here are all the details you will need to make the most of our wonderful street spectacle!
Dublin City Centre , running from Parnell Square in the north of the city, down O'Connell Street, over O'Connell Bridge and through the south side of the city, ending at the Cuffe St/Kevin St junction.
Friday 17 March, 2023 from 12pm to 2pm
No tickets are required for you to attend the St. Patrick's Day Parade. Simply pick a spot along the route and enjoy the spectacle and excitement!
If you would like a seat at the Parade, there are a limited amount of tickets available to purchase for Grandstand Seats. Please see here for information.
Dublin Bus routes - www.dublinbus.ie
Train Timetables - www.irishrail.ie
LUAS service info - luas.ie
Bus Eireann timetables - www.buseireann.ie
Age Restrictions
All ages are welcome at the Parade
We work hard to facilitate our communities with disabilities and additional needs, so that all our people can fully participate in the St. Patrick's Festival Parade, Festival Quarter and various events. Please see here for information and application forms for Accessible Viewing.
We've celebrated St. Patrick's Day in both snow blizzards and tropical sunshine, so keep an eye on the forecast and dress appropriately! The Parade takes approximately 2 hours to pass, so make sure to bring refreshments to keep you hydrated and happy. It's best to wear comfortable footwear.
While no-one will stop you from bringing your pets to the Parade we would ask you to consider their best interests. The Parade can be very loud with lots of marching bands, spectacle noises and of course hundreds and thousands of visitors. Guide Dogs and Assistance Dogs are of course trained for these kinds of situations.