Description

Get ready to paint the town green! The CORE Construction Fort Lauderdale St. Patrick’s Parade & Festival draws thousands of spectators to the streets of downtown for a one-of-a-kind celebration of all things Irish. The parade features decorative floats, bagpipers, marching bands, street performers, classic automobiles, and more. The festival features live music, a kids zone, exhibitors, interactive games, cultural activities, and Irish food and beverages.

• St. Patrick’s Parade and Festival Flyer
• Parade Application – 2025

Please note all vendor spaces are full. We are not accepting additional vendors for this event.

Friday, March 7, 2025

Street Striping | 4:30 – 5 PM

• Tunnel Top Plaza, Las Olas Boulevard and SE 6th Ave

Saturday, March 8, 2025

Parade | Noon

• Parade will travel east on Las Olas Boulevard from Huizenga Plaza to SE 9th Avenue

Festival | 10 AM – 7 PM

• Tunnel Top Plaza, Las Olas Boulevard and SE 6th Avenue

Entertainment Schedule

Grand Marshals

Tim and Laura McGovern

Tim and Laura McGovern are both from the south side of Chicago. They have been married for 43 years and are blessed with three children and three grandchildren.

Tim has a master’s degree from Chicago State University. Laura graduated with a nursing degree from the University of Illinois Chicago. Tim worked with the Chicago Parks District for 23 years and with the City of Fort Lauderdale Parks and Recreation for 24 years. Laura worked as a registered nurse 41 years and has been a neonatal intensive care clinical manager working in various hospitals in Chicago and Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital for 30 years.

Service and volunteerism are an integral part of their lives. Tim has produced more than 1,000 special events with Laura at his side for over his 40 years of service including 24 parades such as the Mexican Independence Parade in Chicago as well as Fort Lauderdale’s King Holiday Celebration Parade, the Dillard Homecoming Parade, the Sistrunk Parade and Festival, the Pride Parade, and more. Tim is one of the founders the Fort Lauderdale St Patrick’s Parade and Festival and serves as their chairman. Tim is also the Founder of the Great American Beach Party and the Fort Lauderdale Walk of Fame. Finally, Tim is the author of “Saying it with Flowers and Packard’s” and “The Arther Stone Story.”

Tim and Laura have spent decades and personally raised more than two million dollars for local charities and are active in many organizations including the Emerald Society Scholarship Committee and Hall of Fame Member, the Brother Rice Scholarship Committee and Hall of Fame Member, the Back of the Stockyards Scholarship and Mentor Program, Disabled Veterans, Special Olympics, Toys for Tots, and March of Dimes.

Laura and Tim would like to thank all of the volunteers, sponsors, and committee members for their decades of support and generosity, “Your efforts have had a positive impact on so many. Your goodness does not go unnoticed.”

Sponsors

Thank you to our presenting sponsor, CORE Construction!

Traffic Advisory

• St. Patrick’s Parade and Festival Traffic Advisory Flyer

Street Striping

Friday, March 7

• From 2 to 6 p.m., SE 6th Avenue will be closed from Las Olas Boulevard to the hotel overpass.

Parade & Festival

Saturday, March 8

• SE 6th Avenue will be closed from Las Olas Boulevard to the hotel overpass from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.
• Las Olas Boulevard will be closed from SE 5th Avenue to SE 8th Avenue from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.
• Las Olas Boulevard will be closed from Andrews Avenue to SE 9th Avenue from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• SE 1st Avenue will be closed from Las Olas Boulevard to Broward Boulevard from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Expect traffic congestion and plan travel times accordingly.