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53rd annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade scheduled March 9

Posted at 4:21 PM, Feb 28, 2019
and last updated 2019-02-28 17:21:51-05

MILWAUKEE — The Shamrock Club of Wisconsin’s 53rd annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade is scheduled to start at noon March 9.

The parade will begin on Wisconsin Ave. at Old World Third St. before winding its way through downtown Milwaukee.

Besides the Shamrock Club, the parade's partners are the Westown Association and Miller Lite.

The event dates to 1843, predating the incorporation of Wisconsin and Milwaukee. It is the sixth-oldest St. Patrick's Day parade in the United States.

This year’s parade will feature more than 100 units including Irish dance groups, pipe and drum corps, and local celebrities and dignitaries.

The Friends of St. Patrick and the Hunger Task Force will collect nonperishable food items during the parade. Volunteers are scheduled to walk the parade route with grocery carts to collect any donations.

The Westown Association has planned a week of Irish entertainment and celebrations.

Here is the schedule:

Lunch Time Entertainment: Stone Creek Coffee, 275 W. Wisconsin Ave., 2nd Street Skywalk: 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

-- Wednesday, March 6: Ian Gould

-- Thursday, March 7: Michael Tinker Tierney

-- Friday, March 8: Beglan Academy of Irish Dance (161 W. Wisconsin Ave, 2nd Floor)

-- Noon: Press conference featuring local dignitaries

-- 12:30 p.m.: Rock Bottom Bash O’ Corned Beef: 7th Annual Corned Beef Eating Contest, sponsored this year by Rock Bottom Restaurant & Brewery

-- Saturday, March 9: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Frogwater

ShamROCK in Westown: Friday, March 8, 5:30 to 11 p.m.

-- St. Patrick’s Kick-Off Party

-- Miller Time Pub & Grill, 509 W. Wisconsin Ave.

-- Entertainment by Ian Gould & Pat McCurdy

-- Free to the public

-- Announcement of raffle winners

53rd annual Shamrock Club of Wisconsin’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade, Saturday, March 9, Noon

34rd annual St. Patrick Mass: Saturday March 9 – 8:30 a.m.

St. Patrick’s Church, 723 W. Washington St.

Shamrock Fest 2019: The Most Irish Thing You Can Do! Saturday, March 9

-- 1-7 p.m. Immediately following the downtown St. Patrick’s Day Parade

-- Irish Cultural & Heritage Center, 2133 W. Wisconsin Ave.

-- Three stages of entertainment plus the Shamrock Kids Club Area

-- Seven bands, four dance groups, kids events

-- $8 per person; children under 12 free

Because of the number of large events scheduled for March 9 in addition to the St. Patrick’s parade (Marquette basketball, Milwaukee Bucks, Admirals and Wave), many people are expected to be in the downtown area all day.

People are encouraged to arrive downtown earlier than usual.

The streets included in the 1.25-mile parade route will close around noon that day, and that may create traffic delays.

Guests are encouraged to consider using The Avenue’s $3 special parking rate for the parade or using ride share and public transit (MCTS and The Hop).

Click here to learn more about the parade street closures.

For even more information on the St. Patrick’s Day parade activities, call the Westown Association at 414-276-6696, email stacie@westown.org or refer to the event website at www.saintpatricksparade.org.