St. Patrick's Day 2023: See the schedule of parades, block parties

St. Patrick's Day Parades St. Patrick’s Day parades return (Source: WVUE/NOLA Weekend)
NEW ORLEANS (NOLA WEEKEND) – Mardi Gras is over, but that’s not the end of the parades. From the Irish Channel to the North Shore, New Orleans and its surrounding areas go green for the next few weeks to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day.
One of the biggest St. Patrick’s Day celebrations, the Irish Channel St. Patrick’s Day Club parade, marks 76 years of rolling in New Orleans. However, one big change comes to the Metairie Road St. Patrick’s Day Parade this year: Potatoes, lemons, and limes are banned from its floats and trucks.
Captain Dan Civello said it was the krewe’s decision and says it’s strictly a safety issue. He says they’ve asked crew riders in the past to refrain from tossing these items, but he says some riders have ignored that request and things have gotten out of hand. Of course, cabbages are still allowed as long as they’re handed out and not thrown. And you’ll still see traditional throws like carrots and moon pies.
For the first time, a new Italian-Irish parade gets rolling in historic Gretna for the first time in 2023, after plans to initially launch the parade in 2020 got nixed due to rising COVID-19 cases. Plus, in Lafourche Parish, Krewe des Lutins brings the first-ever Irish-Italian parade to Golden Meadow this year.
Parades in other surrounding areas also return, including the Louisiana Irish-Italian Parade, a Jefferson Parish staple since 1983. St. Patrick’s festivities also overlap with the annual St. Joseph’s Parade hosted by the Italian-American Club, which also returns for 2023.
Here is a complete list of St. Patrick’s Day parades, block parties and festivities you can enjoy around the New Orleans area. Check back for updates as we get them. Contact us if there are changes in schedule.
One week before the Irish Channel St. Patrick’s Day Club officially takes to the streets for its annual parade, the group will “practice” their drinking and dancing skills and noon on March 3.
Hundreds of members and two music floats will lead the practice march starting on Decatur Street at Jackson Square and weaving throughout the French Quarter. Several scheduled stops at Irish pubs around the French Quarter are planned including Ryan’s Irish Pub, The Kerry Irish Pub, Erin Rose Irish Pub, Irish Museum, Boondock Saint Irish Pub, Fahy’s Irish Pub, 801 Royal and Mississippi River Bottom MRB.
—
The Covington Celtic Club celebrates St. Patrick’s Day in Covington with a parade at noon on March 11.
Members will march through the historic downtown district, passing out paper flowers in exchange for a kiss and other Irish throws. Parade-goers will also see bagpipers, dancers and wolfhounds and other marching groups.
Festivities conclude with a block party at the corner of New Hampshire and Rutland Streets. The event is free, and there will be food and drinks available for purchase.
The parade begins promptly at noon in front of Columbia Street Tap Room, and travels south on Columbia, turning left onto Gibson, right (south) on Lee Lane, the parade crosses Boston Street and turns right onto Rutland Street, passes in front of the English Tea Room, and ends in front of Jewel’s Cigar & Briar Shop for the block party until 5 p.m.
—
One of the biggest St. Patrick’s Day celebrations, the Irish Channel St. Patrick’s Day Club parade, celebrates 76 years of rolling in the Irish Channel on March 11.
This year’s parade features 30 floats, marchers, dance groups and performers. Parade-goers can also expect traditional throws such as cabbage, beads and flowers.
The parade route starts at Magazine Street and Jackson Avenue, heads lake bound on Jackson Avenue, heads towards Uptown on St. Charles Avenue, river bound on Louisiana Avenue, heads towards downtown on Magazine Street and finishes after turning river bound on Jackson Avenue. The parade rolls around 1 p.m. following noon Mass at St. Mary’s Assumption Church.
—
Tracey’s big block party bash returns for the Irish Channel Parade and on St. Patrick’s Day. Expect lots of green beer, jello shots, music and food. Festivities start at 11 a.m. on both days.
—
Parasol’s will bring back its annual block party celebration during the Irish Channel Parade and on St. Patrick’s Day at the corner of Third Street and Constance Street. The fun starts at 11 a.m. on both days. Expect music, food, green beer and surprises.
—
A day of family-friendly fun is on tap for St. Patrick’s Day on the Bayou Festival along the banks of Bayou Lafourche in downtown Thibodaux on Saturday, March 11.
Festivities start with Paddle Bayou Lafourche, with launch times from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m., taking paddlers from Napoleonville or Labadieville and culminating in downtown Thibodeaux for the St. Patrick’s Day on the Bayou festival.
Gates to the festival open to the public at 11 a.m. and includes live music, food vendors children’s activities and cardboard-and-duct tape boat races. The festival runs until 5 p.m.
Entry into the festival is $15 and includes free food, while supplies last. Entry in the Paddle Bayou Lafourche is $40 per person, and you must supply your own canoe.
For more information or to register for events, visit the website.
—
The Metairie Road St. Patrick’s Day parade returns with a big change this year when it rolls on March 12.
The parade captain says potatoes, lemons, and limes are banned from its floats and trucks this year.
Captain Dan Civello said it was the krewe’s decision and says it’s strictly a safety issue. He says they’ve asked crew riders in the past to refrain from tossing these items, but he says some riders have ignored that request and things have gotten out of hand.
Of course, cabbages are still allowed as long as they’re handed out and not thrown. And you’ll still see traditional throws like carrots and moon pies. No produce of any kind will be allowed on the second tier of any unit.
The parade will roll at noon, starting near Rummel High School and turning onto Metairie Road.
—
The Olde Towne Slidell Merchants Association hosts its 49th annual St. Patrick’s Day parade on March 12.
More than 50 floats, walking groups, bikes, horses, cars, trucks, dance groups and school bands will appear in this year’s parade. Plus, throws will include beads, stuffed animals and traditional produce items.
The group departs City Hall, traveling to Fremaux Avenue where it will turn left, and then left again on Front Street, veering onto Carey Street. The parade then turns right at the intersection of Carey and Pontchartrain, then right again on Front and Robert Streets, crossing Carey before taking its final left, onto First Street and back to City Hall. The parade rolls at 1 p.m.
—
Members of the Downtown Irish Club parade annually on St. Patrick’s Day walking their historic route through the Marigny, French Quarter and CBD on March 17.
The parade begins at Washington Park, with several stops at bars along the route on Frenchmen, Decatur and Tchoupitoulas Streets. The parade starts at 6:30 p.m. An after-party follows the parade where it disbands at Ugly Dog Saloon on Tchoupitoulas Street.
—
The Irish Channel St. Patrick’s Day Club throws its annual block party on St. Patrick’s Day, March 17.
The block party features Irish music, food, drinks and dancers at Annunciation Square in the 1500 block of Chippewa Street from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Proceeds benefit St. Michael’s Special School.
—
The Lafourche Concert and Events Club brings the first Irish-Italian parade to Golden Meadow this year. The Krewe des Lutins parade takes its inaugural roll through the town of Golden Meadow on March 18.
The krewe says its name is taken from a local legend of a marsh leprechaun, and the parade will implement a similar “ride what you have” homemade float and golf carts format used for the annual Krewe des Couyons Mardi Gras parade. The parade rolls at 1 p.m.
—
The Louisiana Irish-Italian Parade, a Jefferson Parish staple since 1983, rolls in Metairie on March 19.
The parade starts at Veterans Memorial Boulevard and Houma Boulevard near Clearview Mall, heading east. It turns left at Severn Avenue, U-turns on 18th Street, then continues east on Veterans Memorial Boulevard, concluding at Martin Behrman Avenue.
—
The Houma Irish-Italian Parading Club gears up for its annual parade on March 19.
Organizers say this year’s parade features 21 floats. The parade starts on the corner of Westside Boulevard and West Park Avenue and ends at town hall. The parade rolls at 1 p.m.
—
St. Patrick’s festivities also overlap with the annual St. Joseph’s Parade hosted by the Italian-American St. Joseph Society. Hundreds of Italian-Americans will march through the French Quarter and CBD in celebration of the Fest of St. Joseph on March 25.
More than 80 maids will appear in this year’s court, and the parade also features a gondola float and a rolling St. Joseph altar in honor of the Catholic saint granting an end to the famine in Sicily. The parade rolls at 6 p.m.
—
After plans to launch the first parade in 2020 got nixed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the inaugural Gretna Italian-Irish Parade finally rolls on March 26.
The parade begins at the corner of Franklin and Burmaster Streets and concludes at Huey P. Long Avenue and 4th Street. An after-party follows from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Farmer’s Market, featuring Bag of Donuts.
—
The St. Bernard Irish Italian Islenos Community Parade rolls in Chalmette on April 1.
Marchers will hand out flowers starting at 11 a.m., followed by the procession of floats at noon. Organizers say the parade will feature 1,500 riders on nearly 50 floats. Parade-goers can look out for nearly 500,000 pounds of produce to be tossed by riders along the route.
*All dates and information are subject to change.
Contact us if there are changes in St. Patrick’s Day parades or block parties.
Copyright 2023 WVUE. All rights reserved.
Shan Bailey is the digital content producer and on-air personality for FOX 8 Nola Weekend. Shan is a creative storyteller who is passionate about creating compelling content that connects with audiences.
A Gray Media Group, Inc. Station – © 2002-2022 Gray Television, Inc.