Sea of green expected for annual parade

Irish dancers, bagpipers, marching bands and a sea of emerald-colored floats will fill Downtown streets Saturday morning for the city’s annual St. Patrick’s Day parade.

It’s the biggest day of the year for the Shamrock Club of Columbus, which organizes the annual event. More than 2,000 people are expected to participate.

The parade steps off at 11 a.m. at East Naghten and North 4th streets.

The festivities begin at 9:30 a.m with a Mass at St. Patrick Catholic Church at 280 N. Grant Ave., which is on the parade route.

“When you come out of the church, it’s just beautiful to see everyone out there, all the green,” said Mary Grady Strickland, the Shamrock Club’s president.

The parade route is east on Naughten Street and south on Grant Avenue. It then heads west on Broad Street and turns north on High Street. It ends at the Greater Columbus Convention Center, 400 N. High St.

Parade-goers might want to break out the heavier coats or green umbrellas, though.

A wintry mixture of rain, snow and freezing rain in the morning could hamper the outdoor festivities. Saturday’s high temperatures are expected to be in the low 40s, according to the National Weather Service. The chance of precipitation is 70 percent, though little accumulation is expected.

But when the parade ends, the party is just getting started, Strickland said.

An Irish family reunion with live entertainment and refreshments begins at noon at the convention center. Tickets are $15, or $8 for children ages 5 to 17, and they can be purchased at the door. Children younger than 5 get in free.

The celebration ends with an after-party at the Shamrock Club, 60 W. Castle Road.