A festive afternoon of Irish dancing, pipe bands and emerald-green outfits and decorations is returning soon to Old Town.
The Ballyshaners‘ 43rd annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade is expected to draw thousands of spectators to celebrate alongside a lineup of performers and community organizers. Local dignitaries plan to kick off festivities at noon Saturday, March 7, with the parade stepping off at 12:30 p.m.
This year’s route is modified because of ongoing renovations of City Hall and Market Square. It starts at the intersection of Wolfe and S. St. Asaph streets walking toward Queen Street, before turning onto N. Pitt Street toward Duke Street.
A grandstand with “premium viewing” will be located at King and Pitt streets, Ballyshaners said in a release. The organization also recommends viewing at St. Asaph and Pitt streets, both north and south of King Street.
Attendees are encouraged to arrive early and use public transportation. However, Metrorail users should plan accordingly, as the parade’s weekend will be affected by station closures at Crystal City, Ronald Reagan National Airport and Potomac Yard due to construction.
Several intersections lining the route are expected to close during festivities.
Ballyshaners, a nonprofit whose name means “Old Towners” in Gaelic, was founded in 1980 to organize the annual parade, which takes place on the first Saturday of March. Today, its mission “has grown to promoting and preserving Irish history and culture,” according to the group’s website.
Rook Richards, a musician from Alexandria and 2007 graduate of West Potomac High School, is this year’s parade grand marshal. His rise as an artist included regular performances at Murphy’s Grand Irish Pub, Daniel O’Connell’s, Northside 10, Southside 915 and Augie’s Mussel House and Beer Garden.
Richards is currently working on a country rock record in Nashville and planning a tour “with several releases” this year, according to Ballyshaners.
“He’s looking forward to being on the road and playing his music again across the US, but will continue to come back to the place he was born, where his parents Brenda and Jeff still reside, where he laid his roots, and where he found his wife Annie, and found their wonderful black lab, Coal,” Ballyshaners said in the release.
Tomorrow (Friday), the Ballyshaners are hosting a sold-out Grand Marshal Celebration at the Alexandrian from 7-10 p.m., with cocktails, music, raffles and a silent auction.
