Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Hollywood cancels St. Patrick’s parade.
The 2020 St. Patrick’s Day Parade & Festival in downtown Hollywood has been canceled in the wake of a state of emergency declared by Broward County on Tuesday to limit the spread of coronavirus.
Mark Rowe, director of the New Hibernians of Hollywood, hosts of the events scheduled for Sunday, said the group recognized that Mayor Josh Levy’s “hands were tied.”
“We know that public safety comes first, and we’ll be back bigger and better next year,” Rowe said.
Instead, there will be a smaller celebration on Sunday outside Mickey Byrne’s Irish Pub & Restaurant, where Rowe is an owner. The 1 p.m. gathering will include Irish bands, pipers and an array of food and drink. The pub also is going ahead with plans for its annual St. Patrick’s Day party March 17.
“We request that anyone who’s feeling ill or has a pre-existing respiratory condition consider staying home,” Rowe said. For information, go to StPatricksParade.com. or Facebook.com/MickeyByrnesIrishPub.
Elsewhere, the weekend’s major St. Patrick’s Day festivities remain on schedule for now.
“At this point, the St. Patrick’s Parade and Festival is moving forward as planned,” said Chaz Adams, Fort Lauderdale public affairs manager. “We continue to keep a close eye on developments related to the coronavirus and remain ready to adjust plans if needed.”
Events are scheduled to begin on Friday, with Mayor Dean Trantalis painting a green stripe on Las Olas Boulevard, followed on Saturday by the 7 a.m. Shamrock 4K and an 11 a.m. parade that culminates in a festival at Huizenga Plaza.
The pre-eminent St. Patrick’s Day celebration in South Florida begins 11 a.m. Saturday in downtown Delray Beach, as it has for more than 50 years. Hosted by Delray Beach Fire Rescue, the festival begins at 11 a.m. in Old School Square, with the parade at 2 p.m.
Judging by Tuesday morning posts on the Delray Beach Fire Rescue Facebook page, their St. Patrick’s Day events were going ahead as planned.
In 500 block of Clematis Street in downtown West Palm Beach, the massive block parties scheduled for the weekend and on March 17 appear to be moving forward.
“We are going ahead as planned, and taking every precaution we can,” said Maurice Costigan, owner of O’Shea’s Irish Pub, on Tuesday. “Life goes on, and we have to live it.”