THE EVENTS
St. Pat’s Parade
FREE TO ATTEND!
Thousands gather along Devine Street to catch Columbia’s most Irish parade! It starts at Devine Street and Sims Avenue in Shandon, takes a right on Harden Street in Five Points, and ends at College Street. Our Grand Marshal kicks off the parade at 10:00 a.m.!
Parade Applications are now live!
Set-Up Times & Pertinent Information
Date: Saturday, March 16, 2024
Setup Location: Devine Street at Sims Avenue in Shandon
Arrival Time: 8:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.
Weather: The parade will go on rain or shine.
Floats: If you need a float for your entry, please contact Kirby Parade Floats at 803.359.3134.
Participants will be limited to 75.
Commercial Participation fee is $100.
Entry fees are non-refundable.
Participants must be in their assigned locations by 9:45 a.m. at the latest. Start Time: 10:00 a.m.
Parade Route
Devine Street and Sims Avenue in Shandon
Right on Harden Avenue* in Five Points
Ends at College Street
*tight turns
Parking
Parking is limited to street parking only. Carpooling is highly recommended. Please make arrangements to have someone drop you off, if possible.
Parade Rules:
- Drive slowly in the middle of Devine Street.
- No veering from the middle, swerving, or driving toward the curbs is allowed.
- Keep at least one car length between units.
- Keep at least one car length from walking units.
- Do not stop unless you have an emergency. Keep up the pace of the parade.
- Stay Alert – The goal is to have a gapless parade. Watch out for children and those with strollers and pets.
- Do not throw candies or novelties to the crowd. This is a major safety issue as it encourages parade watchers, especially children, to run into the street to retrieve whatever is being thrown.Any unit not abiding by this request can be removed from the parade by the Columbia Police Department.
- Items like favors, information, and candy may be handed out to the crowd by walkers in your group.
- Be courteous and remember the spirit of the parade. It is a day for family fun!
- Always listen to law enforcement officers and parade officials.
- Animals– We love having animals in the parade; however, you must keep up with the parade unit in front of you. Please do not stop and let children pet the animals or take pictures with them. Horses, dogs or other animals must provide their own clean up staff. The Five Points Association, their committee members and/or volunteers will not clean up behind your animal(s). Please be respectful of the other units that may follow you and your animals.
Line-Up & Staging Info
Parade Check-In – Parade Captains will be stationed in each line-up area. Please assign one member from your unit to check-in with your area captain.
Parents/Leaders – Please walk children to their assigned spot in the staging area. Please make sure that all of your participants know your line-up number. Gathering at a pre-determined spot and entering the staging area as a group is highly recommended.
The parade assembly/staging area is on Devine Street between Sims Avenue and Millwood Avenue. Chatham Avenue will be used for access, and Amherst Avenue and Capitol Place will be used for staging.
All streets in the lineup area will be closed at 8am to all but parade units. Only vehicles participating in the parade may enter the staging area.
Ott Road will be closed to traffic. All parade entries must enter using Devine Street. If your position number is located on Amherst Avenue or Capitol Place, you should enter on Devine Street, turn left on Chatham Avenue, turn right on Blossom Street and right onto the appropriate street.
Vehicles entering the staging area must display their unit number (you can just write it on a piece of paper) in your LEFT FRONT windshield; it must be easily visible. Units should arrive at the staging area in time to be in place by 9:45am. Go to your area, and line up according to your number. Line up after the unit number previous to yours or the number closest to it. The list of parade units will be included in an email you receive one week before the parade. Please bring it with you the day of the parade to assist you in identifying the groups just before and just after yours.
The emcee will announce each entry and description as it passes the Five Points Fountain. Please keep descriptions short – 4 lines maximum.
Once your application is submitted, please do not add anything to your parade unit without permission. This will throw off the line up. Your cooperation in this is greatly appreciated.
Post-Parade Transportation & Dispersal
End of Parade Dispersal – Please follow the directions of law enforcement officers and Parade Captains who will direct your unit through the end of the parade dispersal on Harden Street at Pendleton Streets.
It is the responsibility of each group to get back to their starting destination. Leaders should have a list of participants and each person’s return plan. Vehicles picking up participants should do so outside the event perimeter at a pre-arranged location. You may have someone temporarily park on Senate Street, next to Cook Out, to pick up your group.
DO NOT PARK IN THE FOOD LION PARKING LOT. YOU WILL BE TOWED.