St. Patrick's Day Parade & Events 2025 in Houston, TX

Houston has many fun things to do during St. Patrick's Day weekend. The most popular options include Irish-themed dining, music sessions, dance parties, and sexy kilt contests. But the best way to celebrate is to visit Downtown Houston St. Patrick's Day Parade, which is free. You'll also find streets and storefronts adorned with festive decorations and numerous parties at Irish pubs.

Downtown Houston St. Patrick's Day Parade (March 15, 2025)

With about a hundred marching units, the St. Patrick's Day Parade in Houston is recognized among the largest parades throughout the state. Normally held on the Saturday before Saint Patrick's Day, the parade features more than 100 entries, from vibrant green floats to cheerily dressed participants, all of whom want to embrace Irish culture.

The green procession usually starts at noon at the intersection of Franklin and Congress Street, moves past Market Square, continues down Travis Street, and turns to Miami and Preston Street until it finally arrives at its starting position. The festive parade will go through the city center and is expected to return at around 1:30 pm. At 2 pm, the award ceremony for participants usually takes place at the Market Square.

A pleasant bonus is an after-party held in Market Square Park. The program features live music, mouth-watering delicacies, games, and many fun activities.

Houston Irish Stew Cook-off and Music Festival (February 17, 2024)

Houston St. Patrick's Parade Commission also organizes other themed events, namely the Houston Irish Stew Cook-off and Music Festival, set to take place a month before the parade. Visitors here can experience delicious traditional food, a fair, and live music. The festival spans from 11 am until 6 pm.

St. Paddy's Day Lucky Run (March 15, 2025)

A traditional festive run usually takes place on a Saturday before Saint Patrick's Day. All participants will receive T-shirts with holiday-inspired sayings in signature colors. Runners have several distance options to choose from: from 3 to 8 miles (5 to 13 km), 13.1-mile (21.1 km) run, as well as a relaxed Family Fun Run. Also, you can opt for a family distance option, covering just 1 mile (1.6 km).

The run will take place in three waves from 7:30 to 8:30 am. The registration price starts at $37.95 for the Family Fun Run. The 5K run costs $39.95 to enter, followed by the 10K run with a cost of $44.95, and the 13.1 run for $47.95. The event will be held at Eleanor Tinsley Park. Brace yourself for a celebration after the run.

The Official Lucky's St Patrick's Day Bar Crawl (March 15, 2025)

If you'd like to experience Houston's bar scene, a festive bar crawl is the perfect option for that, featuring several popular bars and pubs in the area. Bring your friends, wear your best green attire, and experience St. Patrick's Day like never before–with exclusive drinks, delicious green specials, and catchy music. The event takes place from 4 pm until midnight, with participants visiting 5 Irish-themed bars. It's required to check in between 4 and 6 pm.

The bar crawl venues are open from 4 pm to 10 pm, followed by the mid-party from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., and the after-party from 10 pm until midnight. So pull out your green garments and head out for a bar crawl. Single tickets cost $15 per person, while group tickets cost $10, if you're buying four and more tickets.

Irish Pubs in Houston

But if you're eager to feast on green beer and Irish stew, you can also venture out on your own since Houston has plenty of places to cater to your needs. Check out The Rustic, McGonigel's Mucky Duck, and Saint Arnold Brewing Company, to name a few. The pub celebrations usually kick off on Saint Patrick's Day and the weekend prior. During this time, many pubs also host thematic parties.