St. Patrick’s Day gets the full-weekend treatment this year, mixing Irish music and festivities with two road runs and a parade.

Some parking spaces and streets in downtown and adjacent neighborhoods will be temporarily closed for the events, so drivers are encouraged to note event dates and times. 

Remember: Parking in City-owned garages is free after 6 p.m. on weeknights and all day on Saturdays and Sundays. 


Knox Shamrock Fest
Friday, March 16 – 3-10 p.m. 
Saturday, March 17 – 10 a.m.-10 p.m. 
Market Square

Family-friendly midway games, activities, balloon animals, face painting and live Irish music, plus Irish cultural demonstrations in Market Square. Way Sneaky Eddie performs on the Market Square stage, 8-10 p.m. Saturday.


Lucky Kidney Run
Saturday, March 17 – 10 a.m. 
Check-in and race start at Market Square
Learn more

Wall Avenue between Walnut Street and Gay Street will be closed to traffic and street parking from 9-11 a.m. Temporary no-parking signs will also be posted on the west side of Gay Street between Wall and Summit Hill. 

Rolling closure along the race route as follows: Wall Avenue, left on Gay Street, right on Jackson Avenue, left at Morgan Street, left on Depot Avenue, right Williams Street, left on Magnolia Avenue, right on Gay, right at Emory Place, right at North Central Street, left onto Fourth Avenue, left at Luttrell Street, turn around before Glenwood, return via the same route but continue straight on Gay Street and turn right onto Wall Avenue back to Market Square. 


Knox St. Patrick's Parade 
Saturday, March 17 – 1 p.m. 
Gay Street
Learn more

The parade steps off at 1 p.m. from Howard Baker Jr. Avenue and continues down Church Avenue, turns right up Gay Street, turns right on Jackson Avenue, and ends at Patton Street under the Hall of Fame Drive overpass. The parade route will be closed from 12:45-2 p.m. 

During the parade, the following road closures and temporary no-parking zones will be in effect:

• Eastbound lanes of Howard Baker Jr. Avenue between Hill Avenue and Hall of Fame Drive will be closed from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. 

• Along the parade route, there will be temporary no-parking zones on Church Avenue between Hall of Fame and Gay Street, Gay Street between Jackson Avenue and Cumberland Avenue, and on Jackson between Gay Street and Patton Avenue, starting at 11 a.m.

• Market Street between Union and Clinch avenues and Clinch Avenue between Walnut and Gay streets also will be closed, 12:45-2 p.m.


Cel-O’Bragh-tion
Saturday, March 17 – 2-8 p.m.
Krutch Park Extension
Learn more

Live music from The Get Reels from 2-5:30 p.m. and The Regal Beagle Band from 6-8 p.m.


Barley’s St. Patrick’s Day 5K/10K
Sunday, March 18 – 2 p.m. 
200 E. Jackson Ave. 
Learn more

This annual road race begins and ends at Barley’s in the Old City; runners of the 10K will complete the route twice. Drivers should expect rolling closures along the route beginning at 2 p.m. with temporary traffic stops at cross streets. 

Runners start at Barley's and head east on Jackson Avenue for three blocks, then right onto South Kentucky Street, right on Willow Avenue, right on Central Street, left on Jackson Avenue, right on Gay Street, right on Emory Place, cross North Central Street onto East Fourth Avenue, follow Fourth to Third Avenue, and turn left on Third, left on Lamar Street, right on Fourth, cross back over North Central to Emory Place, left on North Gay Street, left on Jackson Avenue, and end at Barley's.