Thousands expected to attend Denver St. Patrick’s Day Parade

The festivities will start early Saturday morning as thousands of people crowd into downtown Denver to celebrate being Irish.

The city of Denver will host the annual St. Patrick’s Day parade, which will start at 9:30 a.m. at the Coors Field parking lot. The parade, which is expected to last about four hours, will end at 27th and Blake streets.

An estimated 225,000 people are expected to join the parade, a higher turnout than previous years because the parade actually falls on St. Patrick’s Day and the forecast calls for sunshine and temperatures in the mid-60s.

“We usually hold the parade on a Saturday regardless of when St. Patrick’s Day is, but this year falls right on St. Patrick’s Day,” said Grant Price, a member of the St. Patrick’s Day parade committee.

In addition to the parade, the celebration will include equestrian shows, dancing, music, car clubs and more, Price said.

For anyone unable to attend, the parade will stream live on the Denver St. Patrick’s Day Parade Facebook page.

The Dublin House VIP area, which offers Irish food and beverages, is a new addition this year. It will be located at 20th and Blake streets. Single tickets for the area are $125.

For more information about the parade or to buy tickets for the VIP area, visit denverstpatricksdayparade.com.