The 22nd annual Dutchess County St. Patrick’s Day Parade – one of the grandest around, typically drawing more than 3,000 participants and 10,000 spectators – steps off at 1 p.m. this Saturday, March 3.
This year’s Grand Marshal will be attorney and active community volunteer William “Bill” O’Hare. Also participating will be a long list of pipe-and-drum corps, color guards, local officials, motorized floats, fire brigades, scout troops, school marching bands, dance and karate schools, radio stations, local businesses and of course the Ancient Order of Hibernians in full regalia. Such a large and festive procession requires complex logistical planning. Parade participants are organized into four divisions, each with its own assembly and entry point. Pedestrians can use Pells Place Street for access to all divisions, with marchers lining up at noon.
The groups merge into a single line of march on West Main Street, following Route 9D south to Elm Street, where they’ll turn left and head back north on South Mesier Avenue to end up at Mesier Park. You can download a map of the parade route at http://bit.ly/2F0vNKo and scope out your preferred vantagepoint, if you want to join the spectators.
For more info about the event, visit the Dutchess County St. Patrick’s Parade Committee website at www.dcsppc.org.