The 44th Alexandria St. Patrick's Day Parade is at noon Saturday, March 6, 2027, in Old Town. Free. The 2026 route, Metro and trolley tips.

Last checked Oct. 19, 2026. This page is updated each year. Facts come from the Ballyshaners, the all-volunteer group that has run the parade since 1980.

The 44th Alexandria St. Patrick’s Day Parade steps off at noon Saturday, March 6, 2027, in Old Town. It is free. Pipe bands, Irish dance schools and community groups march, and the organizer expects thousands of spectators. Details are posted on ballyshaners.org.

The parade is held on the first Saturday in March, well before St. Patrick’s Day itself, and the Ballyshaners say Alexandria had the first St. Patrick’s Day parade in the D.C. area. The group’s name means “Old Towners” in Irish.

Who to call

  • The parade: The Ballyshaners, ballyshaners.org@gmail.com, P.O. Box 320722, Alexandria, VA 22320
  • City services and parking questions: Alex311, 311 or 703-746-4311

The 2027 parade at a glance
Date Saturday, March 6, 2027
Time Noon
Where Old Town Alexandria
Cost Free
Edition 44th annual
Nearest Metro King Street/Old Town (Blue and Yellow lines)
Organizer The Ballyshaners

The 2026 parade, the 43rd, was at noon Saturday, March 7, 2026. The Ballyshaners had not named the 2027 grand marshal on their site as of Oct. 19.

The route

For 2026 the Ballyshaners worked with the city and the Old Town community on a new route, published as a route map:

  • Start: St. Asaph Street at Wolfe Street.
  • North on St. Asaph Street to Queen Street.
  • East on Queen Street to Pitt Street.
  • South on Pitt Street to the finish at Duke Street.
  • The grandstand was on Pitt Street at King Street.

Marchers staged in the blocks south of Wolfe Street to Gibbon Street and broke up south of Duke Street toward Royal Street. The map marked the cross streets closed at both ends of the route, at Washington Street and Royal Street, from Queen Street south to Gibbon Street. The 2027 route has not been posted; we will update this page when it is.

Getting there and parking

The Ballyshaners urge parade-goers to use public transportation. The nearest Metro station is King Street/Old Town on the Blue and Yellow lines. From there, take the free trolley down King Street or walk; the organizer puts the walk at about 10 minutes.

Expect those closed cross streets again on parade day. Watch our road closures page, where we post the city’s closures when they are announced.

What to know

  • Come early. The Ballyshaners encourage spectators to arrive early for the day’s events.
  • Free. All parade events are free to the public.
  • March in it: parade applications for 2027 open Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2026, on ballyshaners.org. In 2026 they closed Feb. 20.
  • Help pay for it: the parade costs tens of thousands of dollars, the organizer says, and is funded by sponsors and fundraisers. The next one is a Chipotle fundraiser from 5 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24, at 601 King St.; the flyer and online code are on the Ballyshaners’ home page.
  • Join: membership is free, and the group meets monthly, then weekly from January to parade day. Members also staff the Ballyshaners’ annual Irish Festival.

More in Alexandria

Frequently asked questions

When is the Alexandria St. Patrick’s Day Parade in 2027?

The 44th annual parade is at noon Saturday, March 6, 2027, in Old Town Alexandria, according to the Ballyshaners, the volunteer group that runs it.

What is the route of the Alexandria St. Patrick’s Day Parade?

The 2026 parade started at St. Asaph and Wolfe streets, went north on St. Asaph to Queen Street, east to Pitt Street and south on Pitt to Duke Street, with a grandstand on Pitt at King Street. The 2027 route has not been posted yet.

Is the Alexandria St. Patrick’s Day Parade free?

Yes. The Ballyshaners say all parade events are free to the public.

What is the closest Metro to the Alexandria St. Patrick’s Day Parade?

King Street/Old Town on the Blue and Yellow lines. The Ballyshaners say a free trolley runs from the station, or it is about a 10-minute walk down King Street.

Why is Alexandria’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade before March 17?

The parade is traditionally held on the first Saturday in March. The Ballyshaners say it was the first St. Patrick’s Day parade in the D.C. area.