In 2025, we welcome and ecourage floats depicting our theme :

"Celebrating the 200th Anniversary of the Erie Canal and the contribution of the Irish who built it!"

March With Us

Rochester (NY) St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee is pleased that you are joining us for this year’s parade. This is a community-wide event that brings thousands of people to Downtown Rochester annually. For the safety and consideration of all residential and business properties, parade-goers and other participants, please read, understand and comply with the following:

Our Mission

The Rochester St. Patrick’s Day Parade is a "Moving Show" dedicated to the celebration of St. Patrick, and his life of service to others. Entrants are encouraged to display the shamrock, to remind viewers of how St. Patrick used it to explain the mystery of the Trinity; the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Parade entries shall be fun, entertaining, family oriented and crowd pleasing. The parade takes place on the Saturday before St. Patrick's Day, or on St. Patrick's Day when it falls on a Saturday.

Formation

Line-up begins at approx 11:30 am on Saturday, March 15, 2025. Parade begins promptly at 12:30 pm. Please do not trespass on residential property during the parade formation process. Respect your neighbors. If you damage any property, your group will be held responsible for costs incurred as a result.

Parade Route

The Parade officially begins at East Avenue and Alexander Street, then starts down East Avenue to Main Street, turning left onto Main Street, proceeding west down Main Street, past the reviewing stand located just west of the Rochester Riverside Hotel, and ending at Fitzhugh (then continuing on until dispersing in an orderly manner at the direction of the Parade Marshals and the Rochester Police Department). Parade Marshals will be available the day of the Parade to assist you.

Placement

Units should check the website for official formation details. Be sure to have a copy of the lineup sheet with you on parade day. Please keep your group in your assigned location. To avoid confusion, tell all of your group participants what your division and line-up street is and where the parade begins. Any unit arriving late will be placed at the end of the parade. We post the line-up information on our website: www.rochesterparade.com.

IMPORTANT - Any parade entry (that includes a vehicle) is limited to ONLY ONE VEHICLE. With the new route and staging area changes, there are space concerns. ANY ADDITIONAL VEHICLES WILL BE ASKED TO LEAVE THE STAGING AREA AND WILL NOT BE ALLOWED IN THE PARADE - NO EXCEPTIONS.

Dignity

This is a family event and we expect that dignity will be preserved by the enforcement of all rules and regulations as outlined herein, and officials will be strict in their interpretation thereof. No Vulgar, Non-family-friendly Signage, Clothing, Music, etc will be allowed. No alcoholic beverages or illegal substances will be allowed on or near any vehicle or to be used by any parade participant. Violation of this rule will automatically result in the removal of your unit from the parade and possible banning from future events.

Safety Agreement

Throwing or selling of candy, beads, or any items from vehicles, floats, marchers, or participants along the parade route is STRICTLY PROHIBITED - NO EXCEPTIONS! This creates a dangerous situation for youngsters running into the road and the potential for serious injury. Items may be handed out curbside only. Your participation in next year’s parade may be denied if your group is identified as having ignored this agreement for participation in the parade.

Awards

The awards given out at the Tops Rochester St. Patrick’s Day Parade are:

Tops Friendly Markets Best in Show
The Robert Nolan Community Service Award (Best Government or Public Service)
The Robert P. Kelly Irish Spirit Award (Best Pipe Band)
The Thomas Fitzpatrick Spirit Award (Floats)
Dance School
Fire Department
Bands
Best Commercial Unit
Best Non-Commercial Unit

Floats are judged on the following categories:

Presentation of the parade theme
Appearance
Crowd engagement/ attention
Creativity/ Originality
Presentation / Performance

Each of these is graded on a scale of 0 to 10. Then they are accumulated for a total score.

Registration Instructions

NEW for 2025

If ONLY submitting a printed application, click HERE and a fillable PDF will be available for your entry and submission (by US mail)

If mailing your entry - please submit to:

Rochester St. Patrick's Day Parade Committee
PO Box 18156
Rochester, NY 14618

NOTE: ALL participants should submit an entry form, even if no fee!

Otherwise, continue with the instructions below :

Step 1: Complete the entry form

Fill out the form with as much of the requested detail as you are able.

Step 2: Submit Form

Click the "Submit" button below will submit the form information to us and take you to our payment form.

Step 3: Payment

On the payment, select your method of payment. If electronically filed, AN EMAIL VERIFYING YOUR ENTRY WILL BE SENT TO THE EMAIL ADDRESS YOU PROVIDED - PLEASE CHECK YOUR SPAM FILTER!

If choosing Paypal, you must have a Paypal account and use the email address associated with that account on the entry form - if not, a manual payment can be made via Paypal to "finance@rochesterparade.com"

If mailing payment - please submit to:

Rochester St. Patrick's Day Parade Committee
PO Box 18156
Rochester, NY 14618

NOTE: ALL participants should submit an entry form, even if no fee!

2025 Participant Entry Form

The Tops Rochester (NY) St. Patrick’s Day Parade will be held on the “Big Day”, March 15, 2025. This year’s Parade Theme will focus on the origin and "Spirit of St. Patrick". Each Division will be led by a banner acknowledging how St. Patrick served others, brought hope to the oppressed and challenged the powerful.

We are looking forward to building on the community interest shown last year when an estimated 40,000 plus attended this annual family event. Our website continues to be improved with many new and historical features. Parade participants will be listed on the website.

The Tops Rochester St. Patrick’s Day Parade is a "moving show" dedicated to the celebration of St. Patrick, and his life of service to others. Entrants are encouraged to display the shamrock, to remind viewers of how St. Patrick used it to explain the mystery of the Trinity; the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Parade entries shall be fun, entertaining, family oriented and crowd pleasing. The parade takes place on the Saturday before St. Patrick's Day, or on St. Patrick's Day when it falls on a Saturday.

We hope your organization or unit will join us. Your presentation enriches the parade and your contribution helps make this publicly funded event possible.

Participation Fees: Business Rate - $95.00

Non-Profits - $60.00

Parade Sponsor, Band, Irish Dance School, Veterans - $0.00 (no fee)

Entering your name and date below signifies that you have read and agree to abide by the Rules and Regulations stated above.

(* = Required field)

ALL ENTRIES MUST BE POSTMARKED ON OR BEFORE FEBRUARY 28, 2025.

* First Name:		* Last Name

* Exact Name of Entry:		* PARADE DAY Contact Name:
* Address:		* City:
* ZIP/Postal:		Country:
* Your Email:		* PARADE DAY Cell Phone:
* Entry Type:	NONPROFIT BUSINESS SPONSOR BAND IRL DANCE SCH VETERANS GRP		Non-Profit Fee: $60.00 Business Fee: $95.00 Sponsor, Band, Irish Dance School, Veterans: (no fee): $0.00
Payment Method: (Paypal account required)	PAYPAL CHECK
Animals - Type, Number:		Number of Marchers:
Float Type:
Car, Float, Motorcycle, Truck?		Vehicle/Float Length?:
Do you have Sound, Other?:
Year Established:		Years of Participation:
Where is your group based:
Competitions or Designations:
What you would like to have read at the Reviewing Stand? (If left blank, only your name will be read):
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