Instructions to Parade Participants
Harrisburg St. Patrick's Day Parade  
 



Registration.
  The Parade staging area is located on the Capitol Complex grounds behind the Commonwealth State Capitol Building.  Please note that vehicular access to the Capitol Complex will be restricted Parade Day to only those vehicles that will appear in the parade and trucks transporting horses.  All other vehicles transporting parade participants, including buses, must unload outside the staging area.

Registration will take place until 1:30 p.m.  Registration table is at Commonwealth Avenue between North and South Drives. All units must be in place no later than 1:30 p.m.

In case of inclement weather, Parade registration will take place inside the Pennsylvania State Museum Plaza entrance.

Motorized Entries.  Vehicles permitted to enter the Parade staging area must enter at their designated entrance (Division 1 and Division 2 will enter Commonwealth Avenue from Forster Street.  Division 3 and Division 4 will enter North Street from Third Street.)  A Capitol Police Officer and a Parade Volunteer will be stationed at both entrances.  A Parade Volunteer will direct you to your assigned location.
Drive slowly and watch for children and animals!

Parking.  Parking will be available free of charge to participants until 5 p.m., courtesy of the Harrisburg Parking Authority, on Parade Day at the garage at 7th and Forster streets.  Buses and other large vehicles should park on the surface lots of the HPA garage at 7th and Forster streets.

Parade Route.  See the Map.  For the safety of our spectators, the City of Harrisburg obligates the Parade Association to advise you of their policy prohibiting the practice of throwing candy or any other objects during the Parade.

Parade.  The parade officially begins at 2 p.m. at Walnut Street and Commonwealth Avenue.  Marchers will begin to move via Fisher Plaza at 1:45 p.m. to Walnut Street and Commonwealth Avenue. 
The Parade should last between 1-1/2 and 2 hours and will end back at the staging area at North and Third streets.  Please continue in formation back to the Capitol Complex and then dissolve so that groups behind you don't get jammed up anywhere on the Capitol Complex or the Parade route.
Vehicles in the Parade that have no reason to return to the Capitol Complex can make a left turn onto Third Street from North Street rather than re-entering the Capitol Complex.

Performances at the Dais.  Since a number of groups will stop to perform in front of the dais at Second and State streets, you likely will stop or slow down during the parade on several occasions.  All performances in front of the dais will be limited to three minutes.

Restroom Facilities.  Restroom facilities are located in the State Museum and Forum buildings in the Capitol Complex.  Strawberry Square restrooms will also be open the Parade day.

Vendors.  Commonwealth regulations prohibit vendors on the Capitol Complex, so please eat a hearty meal beforehand and/or bring something to eat/drink with you to the staging area.

Weather.  There is no alternate Parade date.  Therefore, we expect to conduct the Parade unless the snow or rain is so severe that participants cannot safely get to and return from the Parade.  If you do not hear that the Parade has been cancelled by 8 a.m. Parade day, you can assume that the Parade will be held as scheduled.


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