FAQ - Parade Day Tips

F A Q
The 2025 Parade Kicks Off at 1:04pm

STREET CLOSURES & PARKING BANS
*Subject to change; any update by the City of Cleveland will supersede this information 

Starting at 8:00am, the Cleveland Police Department will have a no parking ban in effect for the Parade Staging Area and Route. This includes Superior Ave. between Public Square and East 24th St., plus all cross streets one block north and one block south of Superior Ave.

 The Cleveland Police Department will start closing roads to through traffic as follows for the Parade:
  • 9:00am - Public Square Area will be closed
  • 9:00am - Parking ban goes into effect.
  • 10:30am – The Parade Staging Area will be closed to non-Parade participants.
    • The Staging Area is Superior Ave. between E. 18th St. and E. 24th St.; and E. 18th St. between Payne Ave. and Rockwell Ave.
    • Unauthorized vehicles will be removed and ticketed.
  • About 11:00am - Full Parade Route closure - E. 24th St. Staging Area to Public Square

Click Here to View the City of Cleveland's Map of Street Closures


CHILD REUNIFICATION CENTER - Published 03/13/2025

The St. Patrick’s Day Parade is the largest, single day event in the City of Cleveland. Hundreds of thousands of spectators are anticipated in downtown to watch this year’s Parade. In the event your child loses you, the Cleveland Police Department has established a child reunification center at the Terminal Tower Co-Deployment Center at 50 Public Square, Cleveland, OH 44113.  (Click here for directions to Tower City Center.)  Members of the Bureau of Community Policing will care for lost children until reunification is established.  Members of the Cleveland Division of Fire and Emergency Medical Service will be on hand for emergencies. 

A few preventive safety tips for taking small children out to busy locations (from the Clovis, California Police Department Facebook page):
  • Write your phone number on your child’s wrist and cover it with liquid band-aid.
  • Take a photo of your child using your cell phone the morning of the event so you have their clothing, hair style, and an up to date photo ready to go should you need it.
  • Teach any child over the age of four to memorize your cell phone number.
  • Ask, "Who works here?" when you take your child to a busy place. During the Parade, The Cleveland Police Department will have officers stationed throughout the Parade area. Additionally, the Downtown Cleveland Alliance ambassadors will be stationed at every intersection.
  • Assume you'll get separated. Give your kids lots of reminders about staying together, but also talk about what you'll do when you can't find each other.


PORT-A-POTTIES

Port-a-Potties will be located throughout the Staging Area, along Superior Ave., and at Mall A.

ALCOHOL PROHIBITED

Per the 2025 St. Patrick’s Day Parade Rules, the consumption of alcohol is not permitted in the Staging Area or during the Parade. This rule is strictly enforced, and is subject to police enforcement.

TOWER CITY CENTER

Tower City Center access to the RTA rapid transit train station will be open.

TRANSPORTATION & PARKING

PARKING
The Downtown Cleveland Alliance is a great resource for locating parking lots in downtown Cleveland!  On St. Patrick’s Day, some parking lots may have access restrictions based on road closures before and during the Parade.  Please plan ahead!

RIDE RTA
Check out RideRTA for full details on schedules and pricing for St. Patrick's Day.
A $5 All Day Pass will be available!

RIDESHARE SERVICES
Popular rideshare services in and around Cleveland are:

VIEWING THE PARADE / WHERE TO WATCH WITH CHILDREN

The Parade Route can be found here.  The Parade Route offers plenty of room for spectators viewing the Parade.  We are often asked if there a "best place" for bringing children to watch the Parade.  We do not guarantee any locations are best, but generally speaking, the sidewalk areas from E. 18th Street through E. 12th/9th Streets are wider and offer more space for spectators.
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