Children cheer from a parade float at the March 16 St. Patrick's Parade, Atlanta's longest-running event.
(Photo by Delaney Tarr.)
Peachtree Street transformed into a parade route on March 16, where thousands of people gathered for the 140th annual St. Patrick’s Parade. It’s the city’s longest-running event with participants from across the country.
The Atlanta Police Department Color Guard opened the parade with over 3,000 participants ranging from high school marching bands, Irish dance groups, cosplay groups and several Emerald Society groups composed of law enforcement, fire departments and civil service agencies.
Atlanta-based news anchor and journalist known for her 37 years at WSB-TV Monica Pearson served as the 2024 parade’s Grand Marshal.
“As the engine behind the parade, I must commend Irish Network Atlanta for bringing such cultural diversity to this time-honored tradition celebrating Atlanta’s rich Irish heritage,” Pearson said in a public statement.
The parade also hosted special guest Niall Quinn, an Irish athlete known as the country’s second-highest goal-scorer of all time. He has played for the Republic of Ireland national football team, Manchester City, Sunderland and Arsenal teams.
Irish Network Atlanta hosts the parade each years to celebrate Irish culture and history, promote Irish organizations and connect people of Irish heritage in the area. The Consulate of Ireland in Atlanta reports that about 60,000 people in Fulton County and nine percent of the state population claims Irish heritage.
Attendee Marshall Schumacher, an American married to an Irish woman, said the parade is a hit in part because “it’s a popular ethnic culture.”
“Everybody wants to be Irish,” Schumacher said.
See photos from the March 16 parade by Delaney Tarr below.
A bagpipe band walks in the 140th annual St. Patrick’s Parade on March 16. 2024 Grand Marshal Monica Pearson rides in the March 16 St. Patrick’s Parade. Irish step dancers perform in the March 16 St. Patrick’s Parade. Irish guest of honor, athlete Niall Quinn rides through the March 16 parade. South Atlanta High School marching band performs in the March 16 parade. Participants cheer while riding through the March 16 parade. Participants ride on a fire engine at the March 16 parade. A DeKalb Fire Department official hands out beads at the March 16 parade. Dogs from the Marietta-based DREAM dachshund rescue join the parade in costume on March 16. Marietta-based DREAM dachshund rescue joins the parade in costume on March 16. A parade participant hands candy to an onlooker at the March 16 event. A young dancer performs at the Peachtree Street parade.Beltline Cosplay members join the parade in costume on March 16. Twilight Twirlers of Marietta, Ga. perform at the March 16 Atlanta parade.A drum line member walks in the March 16 parade. Fairview Elementary School cheerleaders walk in the March 16 parade. Young dancers leap through the March 16 parade on Peachtree St. Onlookers in costume watch the March 16 parade travel by. Johns Creek-based Snow Angels dance group performs at the March 16 parade. Cub Scout Pack 575 rides through the Peachtree Street parade.The Atlanta Ghostbusters costume and hobby group joins in the March 16 parade. Members of the Union de Asociaciones de Charros Georgia and Tennessee, a group of Mexican horseback riders join in the March 16 parade. Members of the Union de Asociaciones de Charros Georgia and Tennessee, a group of Mexican horseback riders join in the March 16 parade. The Baltmore Go-Getters Marching Band performs in the March 16 parade. A Tinkerbell cosplayer walks through the St. Patrick’s Parade. Parade attendees wave to participants walking through the March 16 parade. A member of Atlant’s Nocturnal Pirates group walks through the parade with an Irish flag. A mermaid from the Nocturnal Pirates of Atlanta rides through the parade. A Nocturnal Pirate of Atlanta hands beads to a child at the March 16 parade. Attendees meet an alpaca at the March 16 parade. Atlanta community Seed and Feed marching band closes out te 140th annual St. Patrick’s Parade on March 16. Parade viewers pack into Fadó Irish Pub for festivities on March 16.
