Parking at the Celebrate Birmingham Parade

The Celebrate Birmingham Hometown Parade will take over downtown for a few hours this Sunday, which may make parking, or just getting around town a little tougher, whether you're participating or not.  

Where to park:

Street parking will not be available along the parade route, which is nearly identical to last year, except it launches from Daines Street and Old Woodward Avenue. The parade then travels north on Old Woodward, turns west on Maple and south on Bates Street before concluding in Shain Park. The closest city parking garages to the parade route are the Pierce Street Parking Garage and the Peabody Street Parking Garage.

Plan for Pierce Street Reconstruction

, is well under way and leaves the area stretching from the intersection of Pierce and Maple, all the way to Pierce and Merrill, by Birmingham City Hall and the Pierce Street Parking Garage closed. The parking garage is open, but just a little more difficult to get to. City officials recommend that participants targeting the Pierce Street garage should try coming from the north to ease access and congestion.

The Birmingham Police Department will begin blocking intersections along the parade route between 9:30-10 a.m., said Marcia Swain, co-coordinator of the Celebrate Birmingham Committee.

If you're participating

When and where to go:

Parade check-in begins at 11:30 a.m. Sunday.

The participant staging area will be on South Old Woodward, beginning at Daines and stretching all the way to the triangle.

The pet parade check-in will be at South Old Woodward and Daines.

If you're bringing a pet:

All pets must be friendly and on a leash or in a cage. Students involved in the Whiskers & Waggles Pet Parade must be able to control their pet, and are responsible for pet clean-up — waste containers will be located along the parade route. Adult supervision must be provided for every child and pet marcher. 

To avoid the crowds

Not into the community parade? Life goes on for those that can't or won't participate in Birmingham, but with a few additional hurdles. The following downtown streets will be blocked off at:

• South Old Woodward, at Woodward Avenue
• North Old Woodward, just north of Maple Road
• Bowers Street, at South Old Woodward
• Frank Street, at South Old Woodward
• Hazel Street, at South Old Woodward
• Daines Street, at South Old Woodward
• Forest Avenue, at Peabody
• East Brown Street, just west of South Old Woodward
• East Merrill Street, just west of South Old Woodward
• Maple Road, at Peabody
• Pierce Street, at Maple
• Martin Street, at Henrietta
• Henrietta Street, at Townsend
• Bates Street, just south of Townsend
• Townsend Street, at Bates
• Martin Street, just west of Bates
• Maple Road, at Chester Street
• Bates Street, at Willets Street

Ways to bypass downtown Birmingham:

If you're east of Birmingham, the best way to head north and south is via Woodward Avenue. If you're west of downtown Birmingham, however, the entirety of Chester Street is open from Brown to Willets. Brown will be open until 12:30 p.m.

To make your way east and west, head down to Lincoln Avenue on the south side, and Willets/Oakland to the north.

Check the Birmingham Patch Commute Page for the the latest traffic reports and other helpful information.

This story was updated with information provided by the city clerk's office.