Things to do: 10 things to know about the 2024 Naples St. Patrick's Day parade

Kendall Little, Naples Daily News
·2 min read

The luckiest holiday of all is right around the corner: St. Patricks's Day. Celebrate the Naples way with the annual parade.

Here are10 things to know about our city's annual Irish tradition.

Naples HIgh School Marching Band members perform in the annual St. Patrick's Day parade along Fifth Avenue South on March 17, 2012, in Naples.
Naples HIgh School Marching Band members perform in the annual St. Patrick's Day parade along Fifth Avenue South on March 17, 2012, in Naples.

1. It draws crowds of more than 40,000

DID YOU KNOW? The Naples St. Patrick's Day Parade is the largest privately-funded parade in the state.

2. The parade raises money for charity

The Naples St. Patrick Foundation is a nonprofit that donates proceeds from the parade to local high school bands and scholarships.

In the last five years, the organization has donated more than $200,000.

3. The parade is on March 16 this year

This year, the parade starts at the corner of 3rd Street South and 10th Ave. It'll turn onto 5th Ave S and then onto 8th Street South to finish in front of City Hall.

4. The parade is nearly 50 years old

The first Naples St. Patrick Day occurred in 1976 when Father Thomas Goggin led a group from St. Louis, Missouri, around the church grounds.

A few months later, Goggin organized a St. Patrick's Day Celebration, complete with a committee.

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5. The parade will start at 11 a.m.

It typically runs around two hours.

6. There's a couple different parking options

  1. 8th St S and 6th Ave S.

  2. 8th St S and 4th Ave S.

  3. Street parking but make sure you're parked in a valid space.

7. There's an exit strategy for leaving the parade

  1. Go south to Broad Ave S or 13th Ave S

  2. Take a right on Broad Ave S or 13th Ave S

  3. Follow to Gulf Shore Blvd and take a right onto Gulf Shore Blvd

  4. Follow Gulf Shore Blvd to Central Ave

  5. Take a right onto Central Ave

  6. Follow Central Ave to Tamiami Trail (U.S. 41)

Susie Walsh shows off her costume the Naples St. Patrick's Day Parade on March 16, 2019.
Susie Walsh shows off her costume the Naples St. Patrick's Day Parade on March 16, 2019.

8. Registration is still open if you want to be in the parade

If you want to be part of the parade, you can register online.

9. If you want to sponsor the parade, there's still time

If you're interested in sponsoring the event, you can apply online.

10. The parade will go on, rain or shine!

Make sure you don't miss this local tradition. It's family-friendly and a great way to celebrate St. Patrick's Day.

This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: What to know about the 2024 Naples St. Patrick's Day Parade