2012 Harrisburg Saint Patrick’s Day Parade Date is: March 24, 2012 Step Off 2 PM: Our focus is to draw attention in central Pennsylvania communities to our ethnic and heritage-based issues. But, more importantly, we promote understanding between neighborhood and community heritage groups and work to eliminate prejudice and discrimination throughout our community. More than eight years ago, at the specific request of representatives of the City of Harrisburg, volunteers came together to plan an annual event to promote the heritage and culture of the local Irish community.