Festival organisers have recommended that those attending this year’s St Patrick’s Day parade in Dublin wrap up tight to keep themselves warm during the festivities.

With half a million spectators expected to line this year’s route, the parade will feature seven large scale pageants, six showpieces and 12 marching bands from across Ireland, North America and Austria.

Half a million spectators are expected to gather to witness over 4,000 parade participants as they march through the streets Dublin City Centre from 12pm today.

St Patrick's Day parade 2025. Image: Newstalk/Tom Douglas.

This year’s theme, Adventures, celebrates Ireland’s history.

Today’s grand marshal, Hollywood star Victoria Smurfit said it’s a much different day today than the Paddy’s Day she remembers growing up.

“You never want to let your country down by being anything other than bringing joy in the room, having an open heart and just graft and work really hard.

“It’s been a passport to being accepted wherever I’ve been.”

Onlookers at the St Patrick's Day Parade in Dublin in March 2009. Picture by: Striking Images - Tourism Ireland / Alamy Stock Photo

Festival director Richard Tierney said there’s no rain expected, but it is cold out.

“Put on a load of layers,” he said.

“Backpack, bit of food, it’s a couple hours waiting for the parade to hit you.

“I would go to areas you know – if you’re used to going to an area, stick to there.

“Go to the areas at the back of the route near Kevin Street and there’ll be plenty of room.”

Large crowds of people dressed in green take part in the St Patrick's Day Parade in Dublin, 17/03/2024. Photo: Leah Farrell/© RollingNews.ie

Mr Tierney said to pay attention to Guards and Stewards directions – but that the most important thing is to have fun.

“It’s the single biggest policing operation of the year,” he said.

“It’s a year in the making, lot of intelligence, lot of research in terms of how to police the event.

“I think there’s over 1,100 Guards, we’ve over 700 security, so it’s a huge policing event and all the statutory authorities, obviously all the medical provisions and stuff.

“We are the biggest event in the country and it’s policed and managed with that in mind.”

Large crowds of people dressed in green take part in the St Patrick's Day Parade in Dublin, 17/03/2024. Photo: Leah Farrell/© RollingNews.ie

According to Mr Tierney, the latest numbers show that over 100,000 visitors have come to the country for the bank holiday weekend festivities.

“It’s a rite of passage, particularly for a lot of Americans to come St Patrick’s Day, it means a lot and we don’t take that for granted,” he said.

“So, we have to make sure that we deliver, this is the third day of the festival, we’ve had two amazing days around the city.

“It’s been busy, we’ve noticed a lot of tourists, but also a lot of families.”

Mr Tierney said today is the “main course” of the celebrations.

Reporting via Tom Douglas.

Main image: People in Dublin, Ireland on St. Patricks day. Image: Peter Muhly / Alamy