Even though the temperature was in the mid-60s on Saturday morning, Punxsutawney Phil’s handlers wouldn’t concede that the luck of the Irish had superseded the certainty of a long winter predicted by the prognosticating rodent in early February.

“He knows he was right,” said Dave Gigliotti, known as “The Thunder Conductor” in Phil's inner circle of handlers.

Nevertheless, Phil and members of his “Inner Circle” joined several hundred thousand revelers capping off a weeklong streak of gorgeous weather as Pittsburgh’s annual St. Patrick’s Day kicked off at 10 a.m.

“St. Patrick is shining down upon us today and we're ready to have a good time,” Mr. Gigliotti said. “It’s the end of winter, and we're here.”

Crowds, at points four- and five-deep, lined the parade route, which began at the Greyhound Bus Station at the intersection of Liberty Avenue and 11th Street, moved down Grant Street and turned onto Boulevard of the Allies for the final stretch of the 1.4-mile promenade, in a unified wall of emerald exuberance. They cheered as approximately 200 organizations with floats, marching bands and local dignitaries passed by on the unseasonably warm morning.

Patrick Corr, 45, of Upper Saint Clair, was at his spot on Grant Street between Forbes and Fourth avenues at 8 a.m. to griddle breakfast sandwiches for his crew.

“This is our regular spot. We’re here every year,” he said, adding that he’s attended just about every St. Patrick’s Day parade in Pittsburgh since he was born.

He’d parked his car in the lot the night prior to ensure the space was reserved, taking the T back to the South Hills after having a beer with a few other regulars.

"It's wall-to-wall people today. It's gorgeous in a way it hardly ever is for the parade,” Mr. Corr said.

Princess Craighead, of Jefferson, felt the same way.

“It's cold and freezing all the time, so this is a treat,” she said.

The 58-year-old nurse was dressed head-to-foot in emerald garb including a track suit, “Irish City Beer” shirt, top hat and taped on mustache. Although she was one of the more festively dressed people along the parade route, she said her outfit was “low key” compared to some of her previous 16 years attending the parade. Last year, she decked herself out as a leprechaun.

Ms. Craighead said the diversity of parade attendees is something that keeps her returning every year. One of her great-grandmothers was an Irish immigrant to the United States, but she also celebrates the day with sorority sisters from Alpha Kappa Alpha, the oldest Greek-letter organization founded by Black college-educated women in the United States.

The St. Patrick’s Day celebration, first marched in 1869 and a regular part of Pittsburgh holiday festivities since 1950 (save for 1956, when an impromptu parade took place instead of the snow-canceled official one and 2020 because of the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic), is organized with a purpose “to unite the community in a positive fashion under its one theme, on the inclusive premise that everyone can be ‘Irish for a day,’” according to the parade’s website.

“It's a big community. We all get involved and have fun,” says Mike Moog, marching as “St. Patrick himself.”

Mr. Moog, a code enforcement officer in Castle Shannon, is the parade secretary and longtime member of the organizing Pittsburgh Saint Patrick’s Day Parade Committee, as well as a member of Division 9 of Ancient Order of Hibernians.

“It’s a great day, good weather, and we’re ready to spread the warm spirit of the Irish,” he said.

Crowds began to slowly thin as two bursts of thunder rumbled like an alarm clock at 11:30 a.m., but many stayed on to continue the celebration even as a cold rain moved over Downtown 15 minutes later.

(It's uncertain whether Phil felt a sense of “I told you so” during the cloudburst.)

"It's a big honor,” said parade Grand Marshal J. Mac McCafferty, who served as vice president and treasurer of the Irish Centre of Pittsburgh during his 35-year tenure on the board.

Mr. McCafferty, currently battling brain cancer, said his spirits were high as he was driven down the parade route.

"I’m hurting, but I’m here. Today is a great day, and it's important for Pittsburgh," he said.

First Published: March 15, 2025, 8:14 p.m.
Updated: March 15, 2025, 10:49 p.m.