Top o’ the mornin’
Saint Patrick’s Day has become a bit like Christmas — a religious holiday morphed into another month-long celebration. Except instead of candy canes and Santa, we’ll soon be seeing shamrocks and leprechauns decorating storefronts, streets and homes. And instead of holiday light celebrations, we’re going to see Saint Patrick’s Day parades taking place in a scattering of towns throughout the region.
First out of the gate is Norwich with its annual Saint Patrick’s Parade and Festival taking place Sunday. And like every year, assuming weather permits, this will be a festive, boisterously booming celebration. Think silly leprechaun-inspired costumes, green beer, bagpipe groups and Irish rock music.
The procession begins at 1 p.m. and travels throughout downtown (see route below). After the parade, a street festival with live music and food trucks will commence on Main Street in front of the Harp & Dragon. The Narrowbacks, an Irish-American band from New York City, will provide the music, and while various local vendors will be there to satiate hungry beer-induced appetites. Saint Patrick’s Parade and Festival, 1 p.m. Sunday, parade starts from the parking lots on Ferry Street, crosses Main Street onto Franklin Square, then travels Franklin to Willow to Chestnut to Broadway to Main Street, returning to the staging area via City Landing; followed by festival 2-5 p.m., Main Street; www. gonorwichct.com.