One of our favorite things to do as a family is to head to Downtown Denver, grab a prime spot, and watch the St. Patrick's Day Parade with what seems like a million other Coloradans. My daughter was once IN the parade with her jump rope team and we were the same level of excited as if she was starring in a movie. Yup, we are big fans.
This year's parade kicks off at 9:30am on Saturday, March 15.
☘️ Why we love our St. Patrick's Day Parade
- There's something about sharing an experience with a big crowd in Denver. We are a supportive crowd and we love to have fun.
- The parade is 63 years old, so they know what they are doing. It's well organized and very entertaining.
- It's the biggest St. Patrick's Day parade west of the Mississippi.
- You don't have to be Irish to attend, or enjoy, the parade. However, I guarantee you will FEEL Irish that day!
☘️ Our tips for a successful parade day
- Take the light rail if you can. TRUST ME on this one. Parking can be incredibly difficult to find.
- BONUS: It's actually pretty fun to ride the light rail with lots of people who are headed to or from the parade.
- Get there early! There will be A LOT of people there and you'll want to stake out your spot to park and to watch.
- Dress in layers. You never know what kind of weather you are going to get in Colorado in March, and it can even vary hour by hour.
- Bring snacks. The parade will last about four hours, and your kids will be hungry. I like to pack breakfast burritos along with snacks and sweets. Remember water!
- You do not have to stay for the entire parade. It's lengthy, and even the most tolerant kiddos (and adults!) will start to lose it after awhile. It is okay to leave early. LET ME REPEAT THAT... It is OKAY To leave early!
- Hit the dollar store or Target dollar section now to outfit your family with fun St. Patrick's Day gear. There will be lots of vendors downtown, but it will cost you your entire pot of gold to buy them.
- They say that the best place for families is at the end of the parade on Blake Street between 23rd and 27th Avenues.
- To catch full parade performances, the best spot (and also the most crowded) is just south of 20th Avenue on Blake Street (renamed Tooley Street for the Parade). The most dedicated will arrive as early as 6am to claim their spot.
Can't make it to the parade? Catch the livestream on the Denver St. Patrick's Day Parade Facebook Page or catch the replay on YouTube.
☘️ Denver St. Patrick's Day Parade Trivia
How much do you know about our famous parade? Test your knowledge with our fun trivia!
Answers are at the bottom of this article.
- Who organizes the Denver St. Patrick's Day Parade each year?
- When did the very first St. Patrick's Day Parade take place in Denver?
- How many floats and groups were in the first official St. Patrick's Day Parade?
- Where is Tooley Street in Denver?
- What are the titles of the parade's honorees each year?
I highly recommend that you bundle up the little leprechauns, embrace being Irish if only for just the day, and watch the parade in person at least once in your lifetime. Denver does it right, and it's not to be missed. Happy St. Patrick's Day!
Trivia Answers
- Many people think that the parade is organized and presented by the City of Denver. However, it is actually organized and driven by a group of volunteers formed 62 years ago and officially incorporated as the Denver St Patrick’s Day Parade Committee, Inc. in 1986.
- This is a trick question! The very first ever St. Patrick's Day Parade took place way back in 1889. The parade as we know it now started in 1962. And, the official parade, complete with permits and parade entries, began in 1963!
- There were 70 floats and groups in the first official St. Patrick's Day Parade in 1963.
- Each year, the City of Denver paints a green stripe down Blake Street on the Thursday before the St. Patrick's Day Parade. Blake is then renamed Tooley Street for a few days in a brief ceremony called "The Changing of the Sign".
- Each year, the parade honors a Grand Marshall, a Queen Colleen, and a Little Shamrock. (Fun Fact: The Queen Colleen is rarely named Colleen)
