35th Annual St. Patrick's Day Parade

2316 South Croatan Highway Nags Head, NC 27959

• Date: 3/15/2026
• Starts: 1pm

The Kelly’s 35th Annual St. Patrick’s Parade kicks off on Sunday March 15th at 1 p.m. on Sunday, March 15, 2026 in Nags Head—will officially serve as the kickoff event for Dare County’s A250 celebrations, honoring America’s Semiquincentennial in 2026.

The A250 initiative, also known as America’s 250th anniversary, marks a historic milestone: 250 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776. Across the nation, communities will come together to reflect on our shared history, celebrate the ideals of freedom and democracy, and explore how the American journey continues to shape our lives today.

In Dare County—known proudly as the “Land of Beginnings”—the A250 celebrations will highlight the people, places and stories that connect our community to the broader American experience.

A250-Themed Parade Participation Encouraged

To celebrate the nation’s 250th anniversary, the 2026 Kelly’s St. Patrick’s Parade will feature an A250 theme, and parade participants are strongly encouraged to incorporate patriotic and historical elements into their floats and performances. Dare County’s A250 float will be themed, “Life, Liberty and Liftoff in the Land of Beginnings.”

Entrants who creatively highlight the A250 spirit will be recognized by an esteemed panel of judges in the following categories: Best Overall, Best Float, Best Unit, and Best Band/Music Group. Prizes will be awarded following the parade.

The parade—which features more than 100 entrants and attracts more than 10,000 spectators, making it one of the largest St. Patrick’s celebrations in eastern North Carolina—will take place rain or shine along the traditional one-mile route in Nags Head from Bladen Street (Milepost 11.5) north to Driftwood Street on Virginia Dare Trail (the “Beach Road”).