St. Patrick’s Festival Theme to celebrate ‘Waterford; Where St. Patrick’s Day Began’
Waterford City and County Council and EveryEvent, with the support of Fáilte Ireland, are delighted to announce the return of the St. Patrick’s Day parade and festival celebrations – five days of craic agus ceol, live entertainment, pageantry, and tradition from March 13th to March 17th.
The theme for this year’s festival is ‘Waterford; Where St. Patrick’s Day Began’. This year we pay tribute to Luke Wadding, the local Franciscan Friar that listed March 17th as St. Patrick’s Day on the Liturgical Calendar.
The first municipal parade took place here in 1903 following a motion proposed by Waterford Corporation that March 17th become a national public holiday.
Details of the St. Patrick’s Day Parade and festival event will be revealed in the coming weeks, however Johnny Codd, Festival Director, Waterford City and County Council said there will be plenty for all to enjoy.
“Waterford has a great track record in festivals and events. We were the first to hold a St. Patrick’s Day Parade and this year’s St. Patrick’s Day Festival will not disappoint. From parades and pageantry, live music and cultural events and festival fairgrounds to history tours, there really is something for all ages to experience and enjoy.”
Waterford City and County Council and EveryEvent are also inviting applications from community groups, sports clubs, charities and businesses, large and small, to take part in the parade to really showcase what a diverse and special place Waterford is.
John Grubb of EveryEvent said, “We’re hoping to see as many groups as possible line up for the Parade this year. It’s a fantastically fun occasion for all participants and a great platform to showcase your club, society and community to Waterford.”
If your business, group or club would like to take part in Waterford’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade 2026 please visit https://stpatricksfestivalwaterford.com and register your interest.
