PITTSBURGH, Pennsylvania – The Pittsburgh St. Patrick’s Day Parade brought the city to life with vibrant displays of marching bands, dance troupes, and floats parading through the streets of Downtown Pittsburgh. This annual event, steeped in tradition for over 150 years, draws in large crowds estimated to reach up to 200,000 spectators this year.
Participants congregated outside the Greyhound bus station at Liberty Avenue and 11th Street before embarking on the parade route, which wound its way down Grant Street, onto the Boulevard of the Allies, and finally culminating at Commonwealth Place. Madalyn Byrnes, hailing from Springdale and a student at Robert Morris University, was crowned this year’s Miss Smiling Irish Eyes, accompanied by court maidens Anna Catherine Hanley from Sewickley and Brooke Ireland McArdle from Baldwin. The Grand Marshal, leading the festivities, was Rob Tierney.
Rideshare drivers were allocated designated pickup and drop-off lanes in the South Side, with locations identified at South 18th Street from East Carson to Wrights Way and 20-26 Bedford Square off of South 12th Street. Public transportation adjustments were made to accommodate the parade, with around 50 PRT bus routes experiencing detours, starting as early as 7 a.m. for buses using the Boulevard of the Allies or Liberty Avenue in the Strip District.
A light rail shuttle operated between Penn Station and Steel Plaza during the parade hours, ensuring convenient transportation for attendees. The parade route had a fascinating history, including a rare occurrence in the Blizzard of 1993 that transformed the St. Patrick’s Day parade from green to white, adding a unique twist to the annual celebration.
For more information and updates regarding the parade, visitors were encouraged to check the official website and Facebook page. Individuals were also invited to share their St. Patrick’s Day photos with the community through the U LOCAL platform, fostering a sense of connection and camaraderie during the festive occasion.