Rochester turns Irish as city celebrates St. Patrick's Day with parade

Bust out your green sweaters and shirts today as Rochester celebrates all things Irish as part of the annual St. Patrick's Day celebration.

Thousands were in downtown Rochester to take part today in either the yearly road race or the 47th annual Tops Rochester St. Patrick’s Day Parade. This year's parade was made up of more than 100 entries, 3,000 marchers, nine bands, eight Irish dance schools, fire trucks, floats and more.

St. Patrick's Day Parade in Rochester a perfect representation of 'small-town American city'

Joanne Waide of Avon and her husband, Jim, were talking to friends of her daughter — Neil Streiff and Lindsay Schwab of Gates — as the music swelled and the Rochester parade officially began.

Are you Irish? "Very," answered Jim Waide. "All my father's side, right from Ireland, I can trace my heritage back and look at the graves and see the same names as my own — in North Ireland."

Their huddle was near the intersection of East Avenue and East Main Street. Green plaid patterns and plastic green shamrock beads adorned the group.

Streiff said the St. Patrick's Day Parade was a perfect representation of a small-town American city. "You get the best of what it has to offer. Everybody comes together. It doesn't matter what race or background. All together," he said.

Waide said she always goes out on the holiday with her Irish husband.

Growing up, St. Patrick's was a massive party holiday, said Waide, 63.

This is cultural history for so many, Streiff said.

The group was divided over the best food to eat this weekend for parade-watchers or visitors in town for the weekend. Either corned beef and cabbage or a garbage plate ... or shepherd's pie.

Schwab cut in. "Or the street meat right there, Zweigle's."

That excited the group. What should we order?

"Get a white hot. "A white hot! It will change your life."

'I love ROC' get's plenty of love during St. Patrick's Day Parade

As usual, Parcel 5 and and the “I love ROC” sign was a big hit during the St Patrick’s Day Parade.

The beautiful weather presented a perfect opportunity for families to play on the grassy open space that has come to define downtown during festivals.

Games of tag and photo opportunities happen simultaneously to those enjoying the parade near the Mercantile on Main Street.

Will Figgy have the luck of the Irish?

Teresa Jeffery walks down East Avenue amid screening and chanting as parade-goers start to rev up for St Patrick’s Day.

Jeffery is taking part in the festivities, but she’s also on a mission. She walks 2-year-old Figgy, a white coated dog in need of a home. Jeffery is part of a group called Greece Residents For Strays and she hopes someone on the parade route will see her sign and adopt Figgy.

“Let’s get her a home,” Jeffery said.

Free eclipses glasses given out at St. Patrick's Day Parade

A team from the Rochester Museum and Science Center was among the most popular on the parade route.

A huge ball resembling the sun was ushered down Main Street followed by a truck carrying a huge replica of solar eclipse glasses.

Representatives from RMSC handed out eclipse glasses to those excited for the total solar eclipse in Rochester on April 8, while law enforcement officials shouted through a megaphone “bed safe, have a plan.”

Rochester lauded for atmosphere at St. Patrick's Day Parade

Dashaun B. and Richie Cardiel traveled to Rochester to support a friend participating in the parade's festivities as a leprechaun.

The duo raved about their experience in Rochester as they took in the scenes outside the Hilton Garden Inn.

“It’s a breath of fresh air to see a community be a community,” Dashaun B. Said. “It’s the perfect weather and so many different cultures are here. This parade is setting the tone for what 2024 is going to be and I love it.

Reenactors send jolt through crowd at St. Patrick's Day parade

The rhythm of the St. Patrick’s Day parade was kept by members of the Rochester Excelsior Brigade Fife and Drum Corps.

As they beat on their drums down Main Street near the Hyatt Regency, dressed in replica military garb, they paused to let off blanks from old school rifles.

The blasts startled people at first, an understandable reaction in today’s climate, but once folks were sure there was no danger, the theatrics were welcomed.

St. Patrick's Day: Start of parade causes 'stir' at Spot Coffee

As the parade begins, making its way down East Avenue, people rushed out of the long line inside Spot Coffee, ditching their orders to see the hoopla marching down the street.

Mayor Malik Evan’s waved at folks with irish flags behind him, followed by Senator Jeremy Cooney.

As the parade turns into Main Street, the temperature is rising and people stand shoulder to shoulder on the sidewalk.

Crowd eagerly awaits start of St. Patrick's Day Parade

During the calm before the storm, kids and and adults lined the streets of Main Street dressed in green eagerly anticipating the St. Patrick’s Day parade festivities.

Police and vendors prepare for a wave of people to flood downtown. One of those vendors, Robyn Karma sells specialty St Patrick’s Day pins and custom art to people passing by.

Karma has lived all over the country but says there’s nothing like Rochester.

“I love Rochester,” she said. “Even if people can’t afford to buy my stuff, they still tell me how great it is. That makes my day.”

St. Patrick's Day Parade free parking in Rochester

Free parking will be available all day in the Sister Cities Garage and the High Falls Garage. Free parking will be available until 4 p.m. in the Washington Square Garage, the South Avenue Garage, the Court Street Garage and the Mortimer Street Garage. Metered street parking is free downtown on the weekends. However, it will be prohibited along the parade route and the Runnin’ of the Green course starting at 6 a.m.

Grand marshals, honorary marshal for St. Patrick's Day Parade in Rochester

This year’s Grand Marshals are former WROC-TV (Channel 8) news anchors Maureen McGuire and John Kucko.

This year’s Honorary Marshal is Mason Fitch, 98, of Brighton, a World War II veteran who flew 25 missions over Japanese waters.

St Patrick’s Day Parade: Runnin’ of the Green winners 

A Webster man was the top finisher at the 2024 Runnin’ of the Green.

Joseph Whelan finished the 5-mile course with a time of 24:23. Whelan was also the first overall winner at the 52nd Webster Turkey Trot back in November.

Gabrielle Orie of Orchard Park was the top female runner with a time of 27:18.

See the full race results here.

St. Patrick's Day Rochester: Parade route and street closures 

The parade will start at 12:30 p.m. at East Avenue and Alexander Street, proceed to the Liberty Pole, then head west on Main Street, ending at Fitzhugh Street.

The route will close to traffic around noon and reopen around 3:30 p.m. The following streets also will be closed during that time:

• Union Street from Broad Street to Charlotte Street

• Scio Street from Charlotte Street to East Avenue

• Broadway from East Avenue to Broad Street

• Chestnut Street from Broad Street to Main Street

• North Clinton Avenue from Broad Street to Pleasant Street

• St. Paul Street from Pleasant Street to Main Street

• State Street from Andrews Street to Main Street

• Exchange Boulevard from Broad Street to Main Street

• Fitzhugh Street from Broad Street to Church Street

St. Patrick’s Day Parade: Expect a warmer but overcast day in Rochester

Irish eyes may be shining today, but it won’t be because it’s a sunny day.

Skies will be mostly cloudy today in Rochester, with temperatures in the mid-50s this afternoon.

After today, you can kiss goodbye to the 50s for a while.  Unsettled weather returns tonight, ushering in below-normal temperatures for most of next week, according to the National Weather Service’s office in Buffalo.

Runnin' of the Green kicks off St. Patrick's Day Parade celebrations

The Runnin’ of the Green will start at 9:30 a.m. at Parcel 5 on Main Street. The 5-mile course runs along the Genesee River to the University of Rochester and then heads back to Parcel 5.

Main Street from North Clinton Avenue to East Avenue is closed to traffic until around 3:30 p.m. Portions of other streets — including Exchange and Ford streets and Wilson Boulevard — is closed until around noon as the last runners move along the course.

This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: St Patricks Day Parade Rochester NY 2024