Philadelphia is gearing up for a massive celebration of Irish culture, with the city's annual St. Patrick's Day Parade scheduled to paint the town green today. The historical procession, a Philly tradition dating back to 1771, will bring together an estimated 20,000 marchers and more than 200 groups, according to 6abc. Center City streets will be overrun with Irish dancers, marching bands, and various cultural associations, united under this year's hopeful theme of "St. Patrick, Bless Philadelphia with a New Dawn of Hope." The parade is set to step off at 11:15 a.m. from 16th Street and JFK Boulevard.

For those looking to soak up the Irish spirit early, the weekend already promises to be lively, with St. Patrick's Day events offering an appetizer to the main course. CBS Philadelphia reports that Atlantic City and Philadelphia are both hosting parades this weekend, ahead of the official day. Nevertheless, the Flower Show and other events like the Green Elephant are also available for those favoring a more subdued experience CBS News reported.

Traffic in Philly is expected to be impacted substantially due to the parade festivities. Detailed closures include stretches along Market Street and various cross streets in the celebration's vicinity. The Irish Star lists closures beginning as early as 5:30 a.m., with streets reopening by 4 p.m., and advises locals to observe parking restrictions to avoid having their vehicles relocated The Irish Star.

The parade, a colorful exhibition of community and heritage, will wrap around City Hall before making its way to Penn's Landing, culminating outside Independence Mall. The route spans from JFK Boulevard, winds down Market Street, and concludes at Front Street around 3 p.m., WPVI-TV shares. Even though the parade is a time-honored event, revelers and onlookers are reminded to plan their travel wisely, to accommodate for the influx of parade participants and viewers alike.