HUNTSVILLE – Local St. Patrick’s Day Parade organizers must carry pocketsful of four-leaf clovers. Or maybe it’s upturned horseshoes.
Whatever the mojo, only once in 46 previous years has rain fallen on the procession.
The forecast for Saturday when the Ellen McAnelly Memorial St. Patrick Day Parade uncorks at 11 a.m. in downtown Huntsville – blue skies.
A secondary prognostication – Craic agus Ceol, which according to Wilderness Ireland is Gaelic for fun and music. And don’t forget the green beer.
The event is organized by the Irish Society of North Alabama.
“We love seeing all of the people lining the streets in green for this fun parade,” parade director Lisa Bollinger said. “We are thrilled to honor Ellen McAnelly, the parade’s founder, with a celebration of the Irish, and those who are Irish for the day.”
The parade lineup has more than 90 groups participating, including St. Patrick, a long-time parade tradition. The participants include specialty car groups, birthday celebrations, local companies and organizations, live music, dance groups, floats, pirates, and plenty of leprechauns and kilts.
The blessing of the parade, one of Ellen McAnelly’s traditions, will be held at St. Mary’s Catholic Church. The front of the parade stops briefly for an official blessing of the Irish and American flags, presented by the Father Trecy Division of the Ancient Order of Hibernians.
The Irish Society of North Alabama is partnering with the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber to announce the Parade Grand Marshal Dr. Fiona Chambers. She is a senior lecturer/associate professor at University College Cork in Ireland.
Parade organizers have created a spectators guide that includes a route map and parking information. Click here.
The official parade after party takes place at Straight to Ale Brewing at Campus 805. This family friendly event includes live music, games, drink and food specials.
The parade is named after the parade’s founder, Ellen McAnelly, who died in 2009. She opened Finnegan’s Pub in 1977 and held the first parade in 1978 near the pub on the South Memorial Parkway service road. It was known as the smallest St. Patrick’s Day parade in the United States, with only 18 people participating.
The parade was held in Madison in 1997 and moved to downtown Huntsville in 1998.
The Irish Society of North Alabama will also be participating at “Paddy’s at the Pitch” on St. Patrick’s Day with the Huntsville City Football Club at Wicks Family Field at Joe Davis Stadium from 2-6 p.m.
VIP guests
- Grand Marshal: Dr. Fiona Chambers from Cork Ireland
- Parade Queen: Tracy Brady Cieniewicz
- Connacht Princesses: Gianna Mary King & Lily Bridget King
- Leinster Princess: Bella Calhoun
- Leinster Lad: Liam Hastings
- Munster Princess: Arabella Grace Rouse
- Ulster Princess: Ivy Capri Addington
Parade route:
- The parade steps off at Lot K on the corner of Woodson Street and Holmes Avenue and proceeds through downtown Huntsville. The parade briefly will stop at St. Mary of the Visitation Catholic Church on Jefferson Street, will head south on Jefferson Street, around Southside Square and north on Washington Street. The parade will end at the intersection of Meridian and Cleveland streets.
- The parade route will close at 10 a.m., but Woodson Street between Clinton and Holmes avenues may close earlier, if necessary.
Parade sponsors:
- Presenting sponsor – Straight to Ale Brewing
- Province sponsors – Innerspace Brewing, Jefferson Street Pub, Green Bus Brewing, The Martin
- Emerald sponsors – Father Trecy Division of the Ancient Order of Hibernians
- Friends of the Parade sponsors – Maggie McGuinness Pub, Samples/Ryan Families, Sweets & Greets
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