Awards

The parade isn’t over until the awards have been presented!

With over 20,000 participants, the Pittsburgh St. Patrick’s Day Parade is one of the most-participated parades in the nation. Every year, judges observe each entry and award points. The winners are announced in the weeks following the parade and officially receive their awards at the Awards Night. This year’s Awards Night will take place on April 14th.

2025 Awards Night will be held April 14!

2025 Award Winners Include:

The Grand Marshall Award (Best Overall Entry):
Bell School of Irish Dance

The County Executive’s Award (Best School Band from Allegheny Co.):
South Fayette High School “Little Green Machine” Marching Band

The Mayor’s Award (Best School Band from Pittsburgh):
Allderdice High School Dragon Marching Band

The Bishop’s Award (Best Catholic High School Band):
Seton LaSalle High School Marching Band

Parade Committee Award (Best High School Band Outside Allegheny Co.):
New Brighton Marching Lion Pride

The Jack Gavin Award (Best Overall New Entry):
Pittsburgh Samba Group

The Sara Madigan Award (Best Overall Irish Entry):
AOH Sean MacBride Division #32

The Thomas L. Fagan Award (Best Marching Unit):
116th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry “Irish Brigade”

The Mary Long Award (Best Marching Irish Women):
Winner: LAOH Division #11
Runner Up: Daughters of Erin Court #9

The Robert W. Kennedy Award (Best Marching Irish Men):
Winner: AOH Division 17
Runner Up: AOH Division 23

The Thomas J. Donohue Award (Best Pipe Band):
Winner: Carnegie Mellon University Pipes & Drums
Runner Up: Pittsburgh Firefighters Memorial Pipe Band

Best Drum Major:
Mountaineer Fifes and Drum from West Virginia University

Best Drum & Bugle Corps:
The Steel City Ambassadors

Best Senior Band (Non-School Related):
Munhall Community Band

Best Senior Irish Dancers:
Winner: Shovlin Academy of Irish Dance
Runner Up: Traditional Irish Arts Academy

The John McEvoy Award (Best Junior Irish Dancers):
Winner: Shovlin Academy of Irish Dance
Runner Up: Fitzpatrick School of Irish Dance

The Thomas Donohue Award (Best Adult Irish Dance Group):
Pittsburgh Ceili Club

Best Senior Non-Irish Marching Group:
Winner: Civil Air Patrol
Runner Up: Pittsburgh Fire Fighters Local No. 1

Best Drill Team:
Steel City Angels

Specialty Groups

The Glenn Cannon Award (Best Musical Group):
Winner: Virginia Tech Regimental Band, The Highty-Tighties
Runner Up: Mountaineer Fifes and Drum from West Virginia University

The Terry Griffith Award (Best Animal Group)
Winner: Dream Horse Stables
Runner Up: Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers of Pittsburgh

Animal Ambassador Award

Winner: Punxsutawney Phil

The Judges’ Awards

Best Commercial Float
Winner: Raising Cane’s
Runner Up: First National Bank

Best Non-Commercial Float:
Winner: USS Requin Base
Runner Up: Abbot’s Cross

St. Patrick Inspired Award:
Down Syndrome Awareness Truck

2023 Award Winners

The Grand Marshal Award for Best Overall Entry:
City of Pittsburgh Motorcycle Division

The County Executive’s Award for Best School Band from Allegheny County:
South Fayette “Little Green Machine” Marching Band

The Mayor’s Award for Best School Band from Pittsburgh:
Allderdice High School Marching Band

The Bishop’s Award for Best Catholic High School Band:
Central Catholic High School Marching Band

Parade Committee Award for Best High School Band Outside Allegheny County:
Peters Township High School Marching Band

The Jack Gavin Award for Best Overall New Entry:
West Mifflin High School Band

The Sara Madigan Award for Best Overall Irish Entry:
AOH Division #32 – Sean MacBride

The Thomas L. Fagan Award for Best Marching Unit:
116 Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, Co. I

The Mary Long Award for Best Marching Irish Women:
Daughters of Erin
Runner Up: LAOH Division #11

The Robert W. Kennedy Award for Best Marching Irish Men:
AOH Division #17
Runner Up: AOH Division #23

The Thomas J. Donohue Award for Best Pipe Band:
Pittsburgh Firefighters Memorial Pipe Band
Runner Up: Allegheny County Sheriff’s Pipe Band

Best Drum Major:
Brownsville Area High School Band

The Martin J. Madigan Award for Best Marching Baton Group Non-School Related:
The Rock Twirlers

Best Senior Band for Non-School Related Groups:
Kittanning Firemen’s Band

Best Senior Irish Dancers:
Bell School of Irish Dance
Runner Up: Shovlin Academy of Irish Dance

The John McEvoy Award for Best Junior Irish Dancers:
Bell School of Irish Dance
Runner Up: Shovlin Academy of Irish Dance

Best Senior Non-Irish Marching Group:
Scare House
Runner Up: Pittsburgh Renaissance Festival

Best Drill Team:
Steel City Angels
Runner Up: Dance INK

Specialty Groups

The Glenn Cannon Award for Best Musical Group:
Duquesne University Brass Band
Runner Up: Steel City Ambassadors

The Griffith Award for Best Animal Group:
Irish Setters
Runner Up: Victory Stables

The Judges’ Awards

Best Commercial Float:
Riverhounds SC
Runner Up: Misty Farms

Best Non-Commercial Float:
Ray Werner Grand Marshal Float
Runner Up: USS Requin Submarine Base

St. Patrick Inspired Award:
Fitzpatrick School of Irish Dance

International Solidarity:
Filipino Americans of Pittsburgh

2022 Award Winners

The Grand Marshall Award (Best Overall Entry):
Bell School of Irish Dance

The Mayor’s Award (Best School Band from Pittsburgh):
Allderdice High School Dragon Marching Band

The Jack Gavin Award (Best Overall New Entry):
Misty Lane Farms

The Sara Madigan Award (Best Overall Irish Entry):
AOH Division 32 Sean MacBride – Carnegie

The Thomas L. Fagan Award (Best Marching Unit):
116^th PA Volunteer Infantry Company – Irish Brigade

The Mary Long Award (Best Marching Irish Women):
Winner: LAOH Division 23
Runner Up: Daughters of Erin Court 9

The Robert W. Kennedy Award (Best Marching Irish Men):
Winner: AOH Division 4
Runner Up: AOH Division 1 – Wheeling, WV

The Thomas J. Donohue Award (Best Pipe Band):
Winner: Pittsburgh Firefighters Memorial Pipe Band
Runner Up: Carnegie Mellon University Pipe Band

Best Drum Major:
Kittanning Firemen’s Band

Best Senior Band:
Kittanning Firemen’s Band

(Non-School Related)

The John McEvoy Award (Best Junior Irish Dancers):
Winner: Shovlin Academy of Irish Dance

Best Senior Irish Dancers:
Winner: Shovlin Academy of Irish Dance
Runner Up: Rince Na gCathrach Cruach (Pitt Irish Dance Club)

Best Senior Non-Irish Marching Group:
Winner: Teamsters Local 249
Runner Up: Pittsburgh Firefighters Local 1

Best Drill Team:
Winner: Steel City Angels
Runner Up: Marvel Squad Dance Team

Specialty Groups

The Glenn Cannon Award (Best Musical Group):
Winner: Duquesne University Brass Band
Runner Up: Steel City Ambassadors

Best Animal Group:
Winner: Irish Setters
Runner Up: Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs of SWPA

Animal Ambassador:
Punxsutawney Phil

The Judges’ Awards

Best Commercial Float:
Winner: Ghost N’at Paranormal Adventures LLC
Runner Up: Pittsburgh Brewing Co

Best Non-Commercial Float:
Winner: Pittsburgh Gaelic Athletic Association
Runner Up: Outlaw Off-Road Riders

St. Patrick Inspired Award:
Down Syndrome Awareness

International Solidarity:
Ukrainian-American Club

2021 Award Winners

The Grand Marshall Award (Best Overall Entry):
Shovlin Academy of Irish Dance

The Mayor’s Award (Best School Band from Pittsburgh):
Taylor Allderdice Dragons Marching Band

The Jack Gavin Award (Best Overall New Entry):
Dance Inc.

The Sara Madigan Award (Best Overall Irish Entry):
Sean McBride AOH Div. 32

The Mary Long Award (Best Marching Irish Women):
Winner: LAOH Div. 23
Runner Up: LAOH Div. 11

The Robert W. Kennedy Award (Best Marching Irish Men):
Jack Kehoe AOH Div. 1

The Thomas J. Donohue Award (Best Pipe Band):
Winner: Carnegie Mellon University Pipes and Drums
Runner Up: Pittsburgh Firefighters Memorial Pipe Band

Best Drum Major:
Greater Pittsburgh Police Emerald Society

Best Senior Irish Dancers:
Shovlin Academy of Irish Dance

Best Junior Irish Dancers:
Shovlin Academy of Irish Dance

The Thomas Donohue Award (Best Adult Irish Dance Group):
Pittsburgh Ceili Club

Best Senior Non-Irish Marching Group:
Teamsters Local 249

Best Drill Team:
Steel City Angels

Specialty Groups

Best Musical Group:
Winner: Steel Line Drums
Runner Up: AOH Div. 4

Best Animal Group:
Winner: Irish Setters
Runner Up: Pittsburgh Mounted Officers

The Judges’ Awards

St. Patrick Inspired Award:
Dan the Bicycle Man

Best Commercial Float:
Winner: Pittsburgh Brewing
Runner Up: Flynn’s Tires