Downtown will be buzzing with energy as the Freedom First St. Patrick’s Day Parade & Shamrock Festival returns on March 14- and we’re excited to welcome thousands of visitors into the district for a full day of celebration.

Freedom First St. Patrick’s Day Parade 
☘️ Parade begins at 11:00 AM, rain or shine
☘️ Route: Jefferson St. at Elm Ave → Campbell Ave → ending at Williamson Rd.
☘️ Parade applications are available at downtownroanoke.org
☘️ Can’t attend in person? WZBJ24 will broadcast the parade live

Freedom First Shamrock Festival 
☘️ 10:00 AM–5:00 PM in John Nolen Plaza (behind the City Market Building)
☘️ Free admission, live music, vendors, adult beverages, and more

We’re also looking for volunteers to help make the day a success. Sign‑ups are available here: https://dri.ivolunteer.com/stpats2026

A big thank‑you to our event sponsors: Freedom First Credit Union, Michelob Ultra/PA Short Distributing, Delta Dental of Virginia, WDBJ7, WZBJ24, K92, Q99, Star Country, WFIR, The Rock Channel, and the City of Roanoke.

ADDITIONAL ST. PATRICKS DAY EVENTS

Martin’s St. Pats Street Party

Corned Beef Celtic Celebration

VIRGINIA RESTAURANT, LODGING, AND TRAVEL ASSOCIATION

The Virginia Restaurant, Lodging & Travel Association is also asking for support regarding Senate Bill 644, which proposes significant changes to how wage disputes are handled in Virginia. As written, the bill would open the door to increased civil liability and encourage litigation in ways that move Virginia out of alignment with the federal Fair Labor Standards Act.

Conference Visitors Expected Downtown in Early March

We’re excited to share that the Virginia State Literacy Association will return to Hotel Roanoke the first week of March for its annual conference.

On Monday, March 2, and Tuesday, March 3, the event will bring an additional 1,000 attendees to the area—many of whom will be heading downtown or elsewhere off‑site during their scheduled lunch breaks.

This is a great opportunity for our local restaurants and merchants to welcome a fresh wave of visitors and prepare for a potential boost in business over those two days. Please feel free to pass this information along to your teams.

Ambassador Update

A Note of Appreciation for Our Downtown Ambassadors

Our Ambassadors received a wonderful piece of positive feedback this week. A local resident noticed Anthony and Devon clearing an icy sidewalk—work that was both necessary and greatly appreciated during the recent winter weather. She was so impressed by their dedication and professionalism that she sent a $100 contribution along with a heartfelt message of thanks, expressing her gratitude for the work our Ambassadors do every day.

Events, Street Closures, & Parking

Upcoming Downtown Construction

& Detour Information

The City of Roanoke and Roanoke Stormwater have shared a quick update on upcoming infrastructure work that may affect access and deliveries in parts of downtown.

The 1st Street project is expected to begin toward the end of the month. Please check out the link below for more details.

The Kirk Avenue stormwater project (between Jefferson and Market) is anticipated to begin in early April at the soonest. As part of this work, a temporary loading zone will be marked on Kirk Avenue on the east side of Market Street SE, near Ladles & Linens. This signage and marking will be handled by the contractor as outlined in the traffic control plan.

Questions? Please contact Elizabeth Paden at [email protected]

Downtown Events and Street Closures 🚧

The following street closures and associated events may affect Downtown traffic and business.

• Drainage Project - Ongoing

• St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Shamrock Festival- March 14

Find Downtown Parking 🅿️

With more than 1,300 on-street spaces and 7,000+ off-street spaces, plenty of free or paid parking options exist.

Parking Information

DRI - Your Downtown Partner

Put DRI to work for you! 💼

Our mission is to make Downtown Roanoke the preferred place to Work, Live, and Play. As a Downtown business, you have a valuable FREE resource at your fingertips. Let us help share your story!

Website Listings on DowntownRoanoke.org - Our business listings often come up among the first in Google searches. Help us enhance your listing by providing us with vital information, including website, phone number, description, hours, menus, and images.

Fill out the form.

Job Listings on DowntownRoanoke.org - Downtown Roanoke is the most vibrant workplace around and a destination for job seekers. Let us help get the word out when you’re hiring!

Submit a job listing here.

Event Listings on DowntownRoanoke.org - Our Event Calendar is THE place people go to find out what’s happening Downtown. Get your event in front of the audience you’re looking for.

Submit an event here.

Important Contacts 👤

Often, businesses need phone numbers for government services, such as solid waste, permitting, etc., and other services, such as private parking and transportation.

Check out our list of frequently requested information!

Important Contacts