Due to the ongoing crowd restrictions in place during the COVID-19 pandemic, Pittsburgh's annual St. Patrick's Day parade has been moved to fall of this year.
In 2020, it was one of the first major events in the Pittsburgh region to be canceled as a result of the pandemic.
While case counts are declining locally and vaccine distribution is ramping up, officials say public safety is still a concern.
“Now is not the time to let down our guard,” Public Safety Director Wendell Hissrich said. “Covid-19 has forced us down a long and unwanted path, but this journey will near its end if—and only if—we maintain our discipline in fighting this virus.”
Parade Chair Mac McCafferty said "I think it's going to be, in many ways, better than our typical parade because, one, the weather. Also, it's going to allow us to do some things with the bands that we couldn't do."
Parade officials have requested to hold the parade on September 18.
"I personally didn't want to go two years without having a parade. I thought it was too long. It's the highlight of a lot of people's year in Pittsburgh," McCafferty.
The City of Pittsburgh has not yet approved the request for the September date, which is not uncommon for events so far into the future.