Get Out Your Green for St. Patrick’s Day Parade

Mon 3/17 @ 1:04PM

The largest parade of the year in Cleveland (and in many other cities, including my hometown of Chicago) is the St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Tens of Thousands of people line the parade route from the stepping-off location at Superior Avenue and East 18th Street to Public Square. (There’s been rumbling about changing the parade’s location, possibly even to out of the city, if new bike lanes are built on Superior, but no decisions have been reached.)  This year’s theme is “Celebrate the Life of St. Brigid.” She’s the patroness saint of Ireland and “Brigid” is a great ballot name if you’re running for judge.

More than 100 delegations participate each year, led by parade officials and honorees, public officials, and police, military and firefighter delegations and bands. They include labor unions; high school bands; Irish wolfhound and Irish setter clubs; organizations such as the Cleveland Public Library, The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Playhouse Square, the American Red Cross, Burning River Roller Derby and the Cleveland Cultural Gardens; non-Irish ethnic groups such as the Cleveland Asian Festival and Cleveland Polonia; businesses such as Lamar Advertising, Great Lakes Brewing Company and Mooney and Sons Towing; and of course, Irish dance schools. What you won’t find are controversial political groups and candidates bearing signs with one exception: Greater Cleveland Right to Life. I look forward to their inclusion on Planned Parenthood next year. Both sides!

The crowd is as colorful as the marchers, decked out in bright green, shamrock-laden hats, glasses, boas, tiaras and more. Weather’s unpredictable — we’ve been in blizzards, rain, biting cold and in temperatures so warm the whole crowd was in shorts and tanks tops.

The parade steps off at 1:04, following an opening ceremony at 12:30.

stpatricksdaycleveland.com

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