St. Patrick's Day (on March 17th, each year) is celebrated in New Orleans and its suburb in the form of another parade! It's the perfect season for another celebration ... after all, it's New Orleans, and we love to parade!
Our annual St. Patrick's Day Parades are considered another opportunity for family and friends to get together and enjoy a day outdoors. It seems as if the entire city is on the street with picnic baskets, umbrellas, and their recreational vehicles...enjoying one of the biggest street parties of the year! Men and women in walking groups from various clubs in the city dress in costumes of green give out flowers, beads, and kisses to lucky parade goers along the route.
Music adds to the festivities with bands and amplifiers in the parade, and walking groups dancing down the street...only stopping to award their beautiful beads and flowers to the lucky parade goers along the route.
Floats and truck floats (those on flatbed trailors created by the riders themselves) respond to the call, "Throw me something, Mister!" Historically, the parade's most famous throws, are cabbages, carrots, onions...and moonpies! (You may even see a potato or two in the air!)
St. Patrick's Blessing
May the road rise to meet you,
May the wind be always at your back,
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
The rains fall soft upon your fields and,
Until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of His hand
Sunday, March 11, 2012
St. Patrick's Day Parade on Metairie Road - 12 Noon
The annual Metairie Road St. Patrick's Day parade will take place on Sunday, March 11. The parade begins at 11 am in front of Rummel High School on Severn Avenue, goes down Severn to Metairie Road, then Metairie Road to the parish line.
See parade route.
Saturday, March 17, 2012
Irish Channel Parade - 1 p.m.
The Irish Channel St. Patrick's Day Club will hold its 62nd Annual Mass and Parade celebration on Saturday, March 17th, 12:00 p.m. at St. Mary's Assumption Church (corner of Constance and Josephine Streets) followed by the parade (corner of Felicity and Magazine) at 1:00 p.m.
See parade route.
Saturday, March 17, 2012
Tracey's St. Paddy's Day Party - 11 a.m. til
Annual celebration in the Irish Channel - 2604 Magazine Street. Lots of green beer!
See party location.
Saturday, March 17, 2012
Downtown Irish Club Parade - 6:00 p.m.
The annual downtown St. Patrick's Day parade begins on the corner of Burgundy and Piety in the Bywater, proceeds roughly up Royal, across Esplanade to Decatur, up Bienville to Bourbon. The parade makes several "pit stops" on its way to Bourbon St.
See parade route.
Sunday, March 18, 2012
Louisiana Irish-Italian Parade (Metairie) - 12 Noon
The 2011 Louisiana Irish-Italian Parade will roll on March 18th, at 12:00 noon, on the traditional Vets Hwy route in Metairie.
See parade route.
