Frequently Asked Questions

Head over to our Upcoming Parade Dates page to get more info.

It starts sharply at 11 a.m. CST. Watch the full parade anywhere after the Catholic Life Center driveway. Our band’s stage in the CLC parking lot. Please note that although the parade itself does not start until 11 a.m., the lineup begins as early as 7:30 a.m.

The pace of the parade changes every year due to weather and the general speed of our Krewes. If the parade moved at a walking pace, it would reach Eugene Street in ten minutes, Terrace in around 20 minutes, Perkins intersection around 30 minutes and reach the Overpass about an hour after the parade starts. It is usually much slower than that.

Yes, Ace Enterprises provides porta-potties all along the route, including at the Shamrock Run. They are listed on this website.

No, we encourage you to arrive early, bring chairs and stake out a great place along the route.

Have fun, WEAR GREEN! We love seeing all the costumes and green. Dress comfortably by checking the weather forecast the night before. In Louisiana, we can experience any and all types of weather on parade day. The parade rolls rain or shine.

This depends on which streets you are referring to. This decision is made by the local authorities in the days leading up to the parade and the Shamrock Run. We will post streets we are aware of closing on our website.

Yes, WBRZ TV has carried it live for the last several years. The specific information will be available through our social media and on their website. We believe they will livestream on their various platforms, times to be announced.

Parking is a rarity along the entire parade route. Do not park on private property or commercial property unless you have written permission.

That depends on your age and if you have children. Areas after the Perkins Road Overpass are public. There are numerous eateries and heavy crowds. It is pretty much SRO (Standing Room Only). If your idea of the day is to bring snacks and chairs, you may find a place in the BREC Park area (midway along the route) or by the Catholic Life Center. The majority of the route is a private neighborhood.

Yes, but they will need to get there early. The Shamrock Run takes place on Perkins Road up to Broussard starting from 8-9am. There will be a small window of time after the runners leave the route. We ask that residents create an invitation with their name and address on it so it can be shown to officers in case the streets are closed off. It should have your street address on it. If you can direct your friends to park off the route that would be best.

We do not allow vending along the route. Should you show up, police will escort you off.

Please email us with the subject “Perform in the Parade.”

Please visit the Wearin’ of the Green page on Visit Baton Rouge’s website. They are our tourism bureau.

There have been nine. Mark Kelly (2001); Ivar Quigley (2002); Denis Coffey (2004); Junior Finnegan (2005); Mike Rosney (2007); Dick Bourke (2009); Michael Leahy (2010); Timothy O’Brien (2012); Father Mike Maroney (2019).

It is organized by The Parade Group, LLC for families and friends. Southern crowds love to be loved by the Krewes and the way this is done is by tossing trinkets (cups/bead necklaces/stuffed animals) from the float riders to the parade watchers.

Each float will have a float number posted on the back, each side and windshield. Use that number if you want to complement or report a Krewe. Please be specific when you write in with as much detail as possible. Send a photograph or video!

Each Krewe chooses its name when they join the parade. They may and are encouraged to change their float graphics/theme annually, but they are always the same named Krewe, or their Shamrock Ratings start over.

Our first invitations to an upcoming parade are given to previous Krewes who earn a 4 or 5 Shamrock rating first. The new parade year starts July 1 and slots are filled as Krewes sign up and pay their parade fees. The entire process could be over by October easily. If you or your company are interested, sign up today to visit our join our waiting list to get on our Waiting List.

These are ratings 1-5 that are assigned to Krewes after each parade. The ratings come from our Parade Marshals, video cameras along the route and public comments. We want a safe family-oriented parade. We discourage anything that is harmful to children in any way.

The parade has rolled without incident since 1986 rain, sleet, snow and shine.* Let’s pray for a beautiful day. If there is a severe weather forecast, please stay tuned to your local media for further instructions. *We did skip two years due to the Covid Pandemic.