2018 Philadelphia St Patrick's Day Parade: What You Need To Know

PHILADELPHIA – Sunday, March 11 marks the 248th year of Philadelphia celebrating St. Patrick's day with its annual parade. And with the parade nearly on us, you'll want to know details of the day, and that's where we come in.

The annual parade – which began way back in 1771 – will be held from 11:15 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, March 11.

Fox 29 will air the parade live from noon to 3 p.m. on March 11 and will replay the parade on March 17 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Marchers will begin the route at 16th Street and John F. Kennedy Boulevard then head east on Market Street to Penn's Landing.

Parade staging will be held on JFK Boulevard between 20th and 16th streets.

>>>RELATED: Philly Among Best Cities To Enjoy St Patrick's Day: WalletHub

Performances are being held on Market Street between 6th and 5th streets. Seventeen awards will be given out to parade participants based on six categories. See more award information here.

Tons of groups, bands, troupes, representatives, organizations, and more will march in the parade. A full line of march list is available here.

The 2018 parade grand marshal is Sister Mary Scullion, RSM. Scullion is a Philadelphia-based Roman Catholic religious sister and activist who was named among Time Magazine's 100 Most Influential People In The World in 2009.

The parade will be held rain or shine. That being said, Sunday's weather forecast shows party cloudy skies with highs nearing 50 degrees and lows at about 30 degrees.

Before the parade, Saint Patrick’s Church at 20th and Locust streets in Center City will hold a Commemorative Parade Mass.

The Mass will begin at 9:15 a.m. Those looking to attend the mass should arrive at the church before 9 a.m. to get a seat.

With a parade comes road closures, parking restrictions, and public transit changes.

Below are road closures to accommodate the parade:

Streets closing from 5:30 a.m. to approximately 4 p.m. Sunday, March 11

• Market Street between 6th and 5th streets

Streets closing from 9 a.m. to approximately 3:30 p.m. Sunday, March 11

• John F. Kennedy Boulevard between 20th Street and 15th Street
• 20th Street between Market Street and Arch Street
• 19th Street between Market Street and Arch Street
• 18th Street between Market Street and Arch Street
• 17th Street between Market Street and Arch Street
• 16th Street between Market Street and Arch Street
• 15th Street between Market Street and Arch Street

Streets closing at 10 a.m. or earlier depending on traffic conditions to about 3:30 p.m. Sunday, March 11

• North Penn Square between 15th Street and Juniper Street
• East Penn Square between John F. Kennedy Blvd. and Market Street
• Market Street between East Penn Square and Front Street
• All cross streets on Market Street from 13th Street to Front Street, from Chestnut Street to Arch Street
• Front Street between Market Street and Chestnut Street

Parking restrictions are in place in the following locations:

Restricted from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, March 11

• 1500-2000 block of John F. Kennedy Boulevard

Restricted from 5 am. to 3 p.m. Sunday, March 11

• 5th Street between Chestnut Street to Market Street
• 6th Street between Chestnut Street to Race Street
• Race Street between 5th Street and 6th Street

Vehicles parked in these locations during posted hours will be relocated, according to city officials.

SEPTA Bus Routes 2, 4, 5, 16, 17, 21, 23, 42, 45, 27, 31, 32, 33, 38, 44, 47, 47M, 48, 57, 61, 124 and 125 will be detoured from their normal routes through the Center City area and Old City area beginning at 7:30 a.m. to about 5 p.m. Sunday, March 11.

Detours will be posted and specific route changes are available on SEPTA's System Status Page online here.

And similar to other major gatherings in the city, there are certain items the public is barred from bring to the parade route. They are:

• Weapons and contraband of any kind (regardless of permitting, e.g. Right-to-Carry permits will not be honored and weapons will be confiscated)
• Fireworks or explosives
• Illegal or illicit substances of any kind
• Alcohol beverages (Open Container Law will be strictly enforced)
• Skateboards, motorized vehicles or scooters (excluding motorized wheelchairs or similar equipment)
• Laser pointers
• Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) & drones of any kind

In an emergency or to report a suspicious person, activity or item – such as a backpack, a package, a container – notify a police officer immediately or call 911. Do not try to open, move, cover or touch a suspicious item.

(Photo by William Thomas Cain/Getty Images)