Wilmington does a great job celebrating St. Patrick’s Day. Find out all about the Wilmington, NC St. Patrick’s Day Festivals & Parade in this post.
If you’re visiting the area for the celebrations, check out all of our Wilmington, NC content.
For a town with no strong Irish ties, Wilmington, NC does a really good job celebrating St. Patrick’s Day. There’s the annual parade, the annual post-parade festival, and the annual hooley that are always on the calendar.
And then there was the year that Cool Wilmington threw a halfway to St. Patrick’s Day party in September once.
In addition to those official events, there are so many other events around town.
So, instead of booking a trip to see the Blarney Stone this year, come to the Port City to celebrate.
If you’re planning a trip to Wilmington for the festivities, check out this Wilmington, North Carolina Travel Guide to help you plan the perfect trip.
Wilmington NC St. Patrick’s Day Festival & Parade Info 2026
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Cape Fear Hooley Under The Bridge
Location: Waterline Brewing (721 Surry Street)
Date: Saturday, February 28, 2026
Time: 11:30 am til 6 pm
Details: The Cape Fear Hooley Under The Bridge is a rain or shine event that’s held a few weeks before the parade. It’s free to attend, but donations are accepted to help sponsor the St. Patrick’s Day parade in Wilmington. The event is hosted by Waterline Brewing Co. and Port City Irish productions.
Every year, there’s live music from the Wilmington Pipe and Drums group (who also march in the parade). There are Irish dancers and Irish bands as well.
Food trucks are available at the event. Most of the food trucks have something Irish on the menu to fit with the theme, but mostly it’s just your regular options of burgers, coffee, and dessert.
There are also vendors selling Irish wares on site.
The majority of the festival happens outdoors in the lot in front of Waterline (where their festivals happen). There are tables and chair set up under a tent, plus picnic tables near the permanent stage at the brewery.
Visitor Tips
There’s two parking lots at Waterline Brewing, plus free street parking on Surry Street and the nearby streets. There’s a lot at nearby Dram Tree Park, on the other side of the bridge, that’s for boats and trailers only, so don’t park there. You will get a ticket.
The Hooley gets really crowded, but it’s a very managed crowd. There’s a beer tent outside with a single line to buy a beer, then a second line to pick it up. There’s also a full bar inside.
Kids are welcomed and run around (as they do at any brewery in Wilmington), but this event isn’t geared towards children. There aren’t any specific activities, like face painting, for kids.
Downtown Wilmington St. Patrick’s Day Parade
Location: The parade route is along Front St. (more details below)
Date: Saturday, March 14, 2026
Time: 11 am
Details: The parade runs along Front St., starting at Red Cross Street and going until Dock Street in historic downtown Wilmington.
The parade is filled will a bunch of regular participants, like the local Junior ROTC groups, the aforementioned Wilmington Pipe and Drums band (yes, the same one), Irish dance groups, an Irish setters group, a Jeep group, and more.
There’s lots of Irish spirit at the parade, but no swag or food vendors. Because the parade route runs in front of businesses, bars, and restaurants, street vendors aren’t at the parade.
Visitor Tips
We suggest you get downtown early because it does get crowded. We shoot to get downtown around 9:45 am every year, park in the parking lot on Second Street (right off of Princess Street) and set up on Front Street. The downtown lots will be a $10 flat rate after 10 am.
There is free street parking in downtown Wilmington, but it fills up very quickly.
You’ll want to bring your own seats (preferably captains chairs). Like the Azalea Festival parade, there is bleacher seating set up along the streets of downtown Wilmington, but it’s very minimal and on a first come, first serve basis.
We highly suggest that you wear sneakers to the parade. You’ll be walking, as will a ton of other people. It’s crowded, people are drinking, and you want to protect your toes.
Some of the floats throw candy, which is great for kids, but there’s nothing additional set up for kids (like rides, games, face paint, etc.).
St. Patrick’s Day Festival
Location: Waterline Brewing (721 Surry Street)
Date: Saturday, March 14, 2026
Time: noon to 7 pm
Previously, the Downtown St Patrick’s Day Festival was held in the empty lot on Second Street between Market Street and Dock Street. In 2023, it was moved to Waterline Brewing and has remained there ever since.
It’s basically exactly the exact same festival as the hooley now, since it’s in the same location with the same Irish music from the same Irish bands and the same Irish food from the same Irish food trucks. But hey, nothing wrong with that.
Visitor Tips
All the Visitor Tips for the Hooley apply here since it’s basically the same festival.
More St. Patrick’s Day Events In Wilmington, NC:
Eagle’s Dare
Location: 420 N 3rd St
Date: March 14th (after the parade)
Time: 11 am
Details: The Eagle’s Dare, one of the cooler places in Wilmington because it’s a gas station that’s converted into a bar and performance space, is hosting a St. Patrick’s Day Celebration after the parade.
The NC State Pipe and Drums band, The Blarney Brogues, and Folkstone String Band are performing. There will be food trucks, drink specials, and green beer from Leland Brewing. Plus, all the Jeeps from the parade (arguably the best part) will be there.
We went here after the parade a couple years ago and had a really good time.
The Harp
Location: 1423 S 3rd St
Date: March 14th (after the parade)
Time: 5 pm to 11 pm
Details: The Harp is an Irish restaurant and pub in downtown Wilmington. There will be a band from 5 pm to 7 pm and another from 8 pm to 11 pm.
The Harp used to set up a huge tent outside for the bands to play, but it has new owners now, so I’m not exactly sure how they’ll set it up this year.
Ogden Tap Room
Location: 7324 Market St
Date: March 14 and 17
Time: Saturday at 7 pm and Tuesday at 11 am
Details: Ogden Tap Room (my dad’s favorite tap room in Wilmington) has two St. Patrick’s Day parties. The first is on the Saturday before the holiday, with a Wilmington favorite Flannel Rebellion playing from 7 pm to 10 pm.
On the actual holiday, Hoods Creek will be playing and there will be Irish food and drink specials. Doors are at 11 am, but I’m not sure when the band starts.
Irish Food In Wilmington:
Celtic Monkey Irish Pub And Grill
Celtic Monkey (5607 Carolina Beach Rd #100) has a really unique Irish fusion menu, with items like Reuben egg rolls, shepherds pie spring rolls, and steak and Guinness pie.
Paddy’s Hollow Restaurant & Pub
The menu at Paddy’s Hollow (10 Walnut St in the Cotton Exchange) is mostly American (the fried chicken sandwich there is one of my favorite bites of food in Wilmington) although it is an Irish pub with lots of Irish items peppered through the menu, like the Guinness Braised Corned Beef Brisket Sandwich.
Also, to help you save a little bit on your meal there, you can get 16% back if you check in on the Upside app (and you thought it was only for gas).
More Wilmington Festivals:
The St. Patrick’s Day festival isn’t the only festival in the area. For more, check out this Guide To Festivals In Wilmington, NC, with a breakdown by month.
A quick rundown of a few of our favorites:
In the spring: The North Carolina Azalea Festival (the biggest annual event in Wilmington).
For the fall, there’s Wilmington Riverfest and Rims On The River.
In the winter, there’s Enchanted Airlie (the light display at Airlie Gardens) and Leland in Lights (a light display in neighboring Leland, NC).
Have you been to the St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Festival in Wilmington, NC? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.