Get your Irish on: St. Patrick’s Day Parade returns on Saturday, March 14th

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- The Shamrock Club of Wisconsin’s 49th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade makes its return to Downtown Milwaukee on Saturday, March 14th at Noon.   The parade steps off on Wisconsin Avenue at Old World Third Street and will wind its way through the streets of Downtown Milwaukee.

This year’s parade will feature over 140 units including Irish dance groups, pipe and drum corps and local celebrities and dignitaries. Another tradition is the food, contestants fight it out to see who can eat the most corned beef in eight minutes.

"It's a wonderful family experience, it's a wonderful way to celebrate springtime. It's a wonderful way to celebrate St. Patrick's Day and it's a day in Milwaukee where everyone is Irish," said Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett.

All these festivities are just a small taste of what you'll see at Saturday's downtown St. Patrick's Day parade.

The Friends of St. Patrick, in partnership with the Hunger Task Force, will collect non-perishable food donations during the parade.  Volunteers will walk the parade route with grocery carts collecting the donated food items.

For more information on the St. Patrick’s Day Parade activities, please call the Westown Association at 414-276-6696, e-mail to events@westown.org or refer to the event web site at saintpatricksparade.org.

Here are other events associated with St. Patrick's weekend:

ShamROCK in Westown: Friday, March 13th- 5:30-11pm

30th Annual St. Patrick Mass: Saturday March 14th - 8:30am

Shamrock Club Post-Parade Party: Saturday, March 14th- 1-6pm