Mardi Gras may be but a bead-sodden memory of a few days past, but are we stopping with the parades? Of course not. We never stop parading! (At least, sometimes it feels that way.)
As St. Patrick’s Day (Tuesday, March 17, 2026) presents us with a slew of activities over the weekend, here are some of the best. And remember, there’s also going to be an always-impressive act — the annual gathering of the Mardi Gras Indian tribes on Super Sunday on March 15, 2026, by A.L. Davis Park (Washington and LaSalle streets).
The Irish Channel St. Patrick’s Day Parade
This is THE New Orleans Paddy’s Day parade (sadly, it was cancelled in 2025 due to inclement weather). On Saturday, March 14, 2026, the parade will start at 1 p.m. on the corner of Napoleon Ave. and Tchoupitoulas St. Float riders typically toss all things green, including the edible kind (like cabbage), and try to bestow kisses upon the spectators.
Block parties
On the same Saturday, there is a big annual party kicking off at the border of the Lower Garden District and the Irish Channel. The blowout goes off at Parasol’s at Third and Constance streets (10 a.m. – 8 p.m.). Expect much green beer, green tutus, and green jello shots — you get the idea.
The annual Irish Channel block party is typically held on Friday of the St. Patrick’s Day weekend, starting at 1 p.m. This block party is located at Annunciation Square on the 1500 block of Chippewa. There will be Irish music, food, drinks, and dancers.
Downtown Irish Club Annual Grand Marshall Party Bus
The club typically meets in a bar downtown (the 2026 date and route TBA) and heads out on a party bus for a “mobile bar crawl.” There are about five scheduled pub stops before the bus returns the revelers to the gathering spot.
You don’t have to be a club member to ride, though you are asked to wear “traditional Irish colors, your parade tuxedo, or kilt for this ride.” The cost to march includes free Guinness at each stop and on the bus. You can reserve your seat on the club’s website.
Downtown Irish Club St. Patrick’s Day Parade
If you prefer staying downriver on Paddy’s Day, the Downtown Irish Club Parade rolls from Piety and Burgundy in the Bywater into the French Quarter at 6:30 p.m. on St. Patrick’s Day, Tuesday, March 17, 2026.
Finn McCool’s Annual St. Patrick’s Day Party
Or head to Mid-City for Finn McCool’s always awesome St. Patrick’s Day block party. The fun starts at 10 a.m. and lasts into the night, with the Wee Parade, live music, and crawfish. There’s also Irish karaoke till about 1 a.m., which will either be terrible or grand and likely a bit of both. Trust us, it’s just as debauched as the other celebrations around town.
Germans Go Irish
Deutsches Haus (1700 Moss St.) in the Bayou St. John area of Mid-City is throwing a party (2026 date TBA) to celebrate Ireland’s Patron Saint as they do in the small villages in the Old Country: with a Céilí (a gathering).
Expect traditional Irish food like cabbage, soda bread, and Guinness beef stew served over colcannon (Irish mashed potatoes), plus Celtic musicians, Irish dancers, bagpipers, and other family-friendly activities. The event is free except for the concert, which typically starts at 5:30 p.m. (You can get tickets online on the venue’s website or at the door).
Italian-American St. Joseph’s Parade in the French Quarter
Yet another option, the St. Joseph’s Society celebrates St. Joseph with a parade through the French Quarter on Saturday, March 28, 2026. The parade kicks off at 5 p.m. at the intersection of Convention Center Blvd. and Girod Street. It includes 16 floats, nine marching bands, and a whole lot of guys dressed in tuxedos.
Finally, there are parades in Metairie, Gretna, and St. Bernard Parish (the Irish Italian Islenos Parade). For a full list, please visit the New Orleans St. Patrick’s Day website.
If you’re visiting New Orleans this spring, take advantage of the French Market Inn specials, group rates, and best-rate guarantee for greater savings to spend on New Orleans famous French Quarter cuisine and enjoying everything this magnificent city has to offer. Reserve your room today!