Our Parade
The Ballyshaners 43rd Alexandria St. Patrick’s Day Parade will be held on Saturday, March 7th, 2026. Residents and tourists are encouraged to come early to enjoy the events at one of the DC area’s finest parades. All events are free to the public.
Alexandria boasts the first St. Patrick’s Day Parade in the DC area. Traditionally, this parade is held the first Saturday in March, and serves to attract the finest entries. The parade normally features pipe bands, Irish dance schools, community groups, and a host of other performers and entertainment. It’s a fantastic day to spend with family or friends!
We are working with the City of Alexandria and the Old Town community to establish a new parade route for 2026! Please check this space for updates.
With thousands of spectators and participants expected, parade goers are encouraged to take advantage of public transportation. The closest Metro is the Blue Line and Yellow Line, King Street/Old Town Station. There is a free trolley from the Metro, or the activities can be reached by a short 10-minute walk down King Street.
Parade Applications
Parade Applications open December 1st, 2025. The Committee will review your application and respond as soon as possible. Thanks for expressing interest in continuing support of the Alexandria Saint Patrick’s Day Parade!
About the Ballyshaners
The Ballyshaners is a non-profit, non-sectarian, and non-partisan corporation organized exclusively for charitable and educational purposes. All members of the organization are volunteers and do not receive compensation for their participation. Our goal is to promote and preserve Irish Heritage. One way we do this is by organizing and running the Saint Patrick’s Day Parade in Alexandria.
The Ballyshaners is an all-volunteer organization. Our meetings are monthly from mid-March through December, and weekly January up until Parade Day. There s no fee to join. Members can be as involved as much or as little as their time allows. In addition to its leadership team, members tend to help manage our two fundraisers, or at the Irish Festival. Opportunities include gathering a few items for silent auctions, overseeing auctions, selling raffle tickets at fundraisers, or helping to make the Festival run smoothly. Others help sell ads for the Parade Program or serve as the key contact for dignitaries on Parade Day.
Our Leadership
Officers:
- Chairman – Margaret (Maggie) Hayes
- Vice Chairman – Frank McCraw
- Secretary – Erin Sole
- Treasurer – Kathleen Walsh
Additional Leaders:
- Parade Captain – Tasha Pablo
- Lead Parade Marshal – TBA
Interested in Joining?
Join us at a meeting! View Events on our homepage with our next meeting listed, or fill out the contact form at the bottom of the page to learn more about being a Ballyshaner!
Fundraisers
Please watch this page and Facebook for upcoming Parade Fundraisers.
If you love our parade, please consider donating time or money to the cause! Attend a fundraiser or volunteer–we always need help planning and staffing the parade and our annual Irish Festival. Contact us at ballyshaners.org@gmail.com for specific volunteer opportunities or join the Ballyshaners! There’s no membership fee, and we hold monthly meetings at 7pm, dates to be determined with weekly meetings in the two months preceding our parade. Dates and locations are posted on our website.
Our parades typically cost tens of thousands of dollars and require months of careful planning, and the past two years have been difficult for our members, sponsors, and local businesses. Want to donate to preserve Old Town’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade? Click below to become a sponsor