NextStop Blog

The St. Louis region knows how to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, and Metro Transit makes it easy for everyone to enjoy the multiple parades in the area – without worrying about traffic, street closures and high gas prices.

The St. Patrick’s Day celebrations begin on March 12 in Belleville and downtown St. Louis. The celebration continues on March 17 with the Dogtown St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Irish Festival. Families and parade-goers can park for free at any one of 20 Metro Park-Ride lots in Missouri and Illinois and ride MetroLink to the festivities, and there are also several convenient MetroBus options for each event.

Details of the events and nearby transit connections are below. To plan your trip to St. Patrick’s Day fun, visit our online trip planner, use the Transit app, or contact Metro Transit Information for assistance at 314.207.9786 (text) or 314.231.2345 (phone), available Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Area St. Patrick’s Day Parades

St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Belleville, IL
Saturday, March 12 at 11 a.m.
MetroLink: Belleville MetroLink Station
MetroBus: #1 Main-State Street, #15 Belleville-Shiloh/Scott Station, #16 St. Clair Square, #17 Carlyle Plaza-17th Street

• Now in its 20th year and hosted by the Ancient Order of Hibernians, Belleville’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade starts at 11 a.m., moving east on Main Street from 3rd to Oak Streets.
  

St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Downtown St. Louis
Saturday, March 12 at Noon
MetroLink: Union Station MetroLink Station, Civic Center Transit Center, Stadium MetroLink Station, 8th & Pine
MetroBus: More than a dozen MetroBus routes connect to the Civic Center Transit Center in downtown St. Louis, located just south of the parade route. Please note that buses will be operating on reroutes in downtown around the parade route.

• The 53rd annual Metropolitan St. Patrick’s Day Parade comes to downtown St. Louis on March 12, starting at noon from 20th & Market Street, traveling east on Market to Broadway, ending at Broadway and Clark Streets. The parade route is near four downtown MetroLink stations and the Civic Center Transit Center.

Dogtown St. Patrick’s Day Parade & Irish Festival
Thursday, March 17 at 9 a.m.
MetroBus: #31 Chouteau, #59 Oakland, #90 Hampton

• The Dogtown Irish Festival begins at 9 a.m., highlighting the spirit and celebrated history of the Dogtown neighborhood, and featuring food, drinks, music and more. The Ancient Order of Hibernians’ parade begins at 11 a.m., with about 100 colorful floats saluting Irish heritage and culture.