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03/08/2017 11:01 PMCelebrating its 175th anniversary, the Greater New Haven St. Patrick’s Day Parade will kick off Sunday, March 17 at 1:30 p.m., following the traditional route which starts on Chapel Street at Sherman Avenue, and ending on Grove Street at Orange Street.
Patrick J. Smith, the chairperson of the parade, says The Family Fun Zone was a big hit last year and will be offered again this year. Highlights this year include the New Haven Parks Department Fun Bus with arts and crafts, face painting, and games; a dance contest; balloon art makers; and free hot chocolate. There also will be “family friendly” convenience facilities, food available for purchase, and food trucks. There also will be a virtual reality bike race for children and adults. The Fun Zone, sponsored by metroPCS, will open at 11:30 a.m. at the New Haven Town Green, at the corner of Elm and Church Streets.
The parade this year also will feature the Elm City Party Bike, Smith says.
“It’s an 18-passenger bicycle and this will be its inaugural debut” in the parade, he says.
The party bike is used for pedal pub tours of New Haven for groups of up to 15 people.
Smith says that the parade also will feature a full contingent of fife and drum corps, among other participants.
Smith says he thinks the best place to watch the parade is near the corner of Church and Chapel down to Grove Street.
“That’s the most family friendly,” he says, adding that the parade organizers and New Haven officials are endeavoring to make the entire event family friendly by cracking down on excessive drinking and inappropriate behavior.
“The Parade Committee is working with City of New Haven to ensure our event is one we can all be proud of,” according to a statement on the parade website. “The New Haven Police Department will again be enforcing all laws related to public drinking of alcohol. Please be aware that public drinking from open containers, disorderly behavior, and sale of alcoholic beverages other than in licensed establishments will be the focus of police enforcement efforts as well as public safety. Citations of up to $99 will be issued for open container violations. Police will also be conducting DUI checks during and after the parade. Come and enjoy the parade; leave your coolers and alcoholic beverages at home.”
Smith, who grew up in the East Rock section of New Haven, says his favorite part of the parade when he was a kid was the fire engines, and that there will be plenty of those this year as well. “I remember walking down to the parade when I was just three or four and my parents would yell to us kids, ‘Just meet us at the regular spot,’” he says. “And I would just wait for those fire engines to blare their sirens. I thought it was the coolest thing. Now my favorite part is more the fife and drums. We’re all just hoping for a 60-degree day and some sunshine so everyone can enjoy all of it.”
There will be a parade kickoff party on Friday, March 10 from 6 to 10 p.m. at Christopher Martins, 860 State Street, New Haven, with music by the Panacea Bros., featuring New Haven firefighter Tim Borer. Proceeds will help support the parade.
—Pem McNerney