13-03-2025
Where to watch the 2025 Knoxville's St. Patrick's Day Parade
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — It's almost St. Patrick's Day again, which means it's also time for the annual St. Patrick's Day parade in downtown Knoxville. Every year, the parade draws a large crowd to Gay Street. Last year, the parade brought nearly 5,000 visitors to downtown Knoxville.
The St. Patrick's Day parade is scheduled to step off at 1 p.m. on Saturday, March 15. For those who aren't able to make it in person, the parade will be streamed in this story.
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This year, the parade will begin on Gay Street at Main Street and stroll down till Gay Street's intersection with Magnolia Avenue. In previous years, the parade stepped off from the South side of the Gay Street Bridge, but because of the bridge was closed in June 2024 after a 'compromised element' was discovered, the starting location for this year's festivities had to be moved.
There really aren't any bad places along Gay Street to watch the parade, but there are some areas where it may be a little easier to find space to see the parade, such as near the Rowing Man Statue on the corner of W. Church Street and Gay Street, or near the Visit Knoxville Visitor's Center, where there are a few parking lots that may provide a little extra breathing room. Those who value having more space to move around may look for a watching spot between West Vine Street and Jackson Avenue, where the sidewalks are wider.
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6 News' Lori Tucker is one of the emcees for the event. The VIP and emcee area is expected to be in the Krutch Park area of Gay Street, however, the location may be moved if there is inclement weather. Those hoping to be closer to the announcements of the floats may try to find somewhere closer to DiCarlo's Pizza or the Regal Cinema, although the area can be very popular, so it's best to arrive early.
The parade is expected to happen rain or shine. Storm Team 6 is monitoring the possibility of severe weather, including wind and storms, on Saturday. Stay up to date with the Storm Team's latest forecast here.
This year's Grand Marshall is Knoxville Native and NFL star Harrison Smith. The Knoxville Catholica High School Graduate played college football for Notre Dame before being drafted to the Minnesota Vikings in the first round of the 2012 NFL Draft. He then played in the NFL for 13 seasons, and worked off the field to benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters Twin Cities and The Leary Firefighters Foundation.
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Last year's parade was a sight to see, with all kinds of floats, performers, and businesses and organizations taking part.
In 2024, Wallet Hub named the Knox St. Patrick's Day Parade the 13th best St. Patrick's Day parade in the country, ranking it higher than the parades held in San Francisco and New Orleans.
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