Fri 3/17 @ 1:04PM
I have been to a St. Patrick’s Day parade in a blinding blizzard. I’ve been to one where everyone was wearing shorts, sandals and tank tops to enjoy the tropical weather.
But whatever the weather is like, this Friday March 17 @ 1:04pm, the parade will step off from the corner of West 18th and Superior in front of the former Plain Dealer Building, and Superior all the way to Public Square will be lined with celebrants in Kelly green sweaters and hats and shamrock-shaped glasses.
It’s the year’s biggest parade, featuring delegations from businesses, labor unions, governmental agencies, police and firefighters, organizations such as the Cleveland Public Library and the Rock Hall, high school marching bands, Irish dance schools, and my personal favorite: animals! Horses, alpacas, Irish setters, Irish wolfhounds, usually the City Dogs rescue group. There’s always a delegation of elected officials leading the way, although no campaigning or political organizations are allowed, with the glaring exception of an anti-abortion group, which really needs to be sidelined already to keep the event nonpartisan and welcoming to all.
This year’s theme is “Salute to Irish American Athletes.” There are usually hikers and unicyclists and the Burning River roller derby girls among others; maybe this year there’ll be more such groups.
Join the diverse throng of tens of thousands — most of them not Irish — who take in this free entertainment. And even though some bars open super-early on this day, try not to get too drunk to enjoy it!