Out and About in RI: 44th Annual Pawtucket Saint Patrick’s Day Parade

by Herb Weiss, RINewsToday contributor and weekly author of a column on aging issues

The Pawtucket St. Patrick’s Parade returned on Saturday, celebrating its 44th year in 2026 as one of the city’s most beloved community traditions. Sponsored by the Saint Patrick’s Parade Committee and the City of Pawtucket, the annual event honored Irish heritage while bringing together residents, visitors, and local organizations for a festive day of music, culture, and community pride.

This year’s parade was led by Grand Marshal Dr. Rosemary Ann Costigan, president of Community College of Rhode Island – and a proud Pawtucket resident. In 2025, she was honored as Person of the Year by the Pawtucket Hall of Fame in recognition of her leadership, dedication to education, and commitment to the community.

Also recognized this year as the Faces of Pawtucket are Cathleen Costigan Duffy and Olly Duffy, honoring their contributions to the Pawtucket civic spirit.

The parade stepped off at 12:00 noon from the corner of Division Street and South Bend near Jenks Junior High School. The 1.1 mile route continued along South Bend and Walcott Street through downtown Pawtucket before ending at City Hall on Roosevelt Avenue, giving hundreds of spectators plenty of places along the route to enjoy the celebration.

Like previous years, the 2026 parade was organized by the Saint Patrick’s Parade community, continuing its involvement in celebrating the city’s Irish heritage and Committee under the leadership of co-chairs Arthur Brunelle and Amy Floyd and its 40 Parade Committee members, whose efforts helped coordinate the many volunteers, organizations, and performers that make the annual event possible.

Each year the parade features marching bands, bagpipers, Irish dancers, decorated floats, community groups, and public safety units, all proudly dressed in green to celebrate Irish culture and St. Patrick’s Day traditions. Families line the streets to watch the colorful procession, making the parade one of the first major St. Patrick’s celebrations in Rhode Island each year.