The 57th Shamrock Club of Wisconsin St. Patrick’s Day Parade is the city's largest St. Paddy's celebration, and it returns to Downtown Milwaukee on Saturday, March 15 at noon.
Presented by Miller Lite, the Parade steps off at North Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive and West Wisconsin Avenue and travels through Downtown’s entertainment districts, ending on North Water Street at Highland Avenue.
“Milwaukee may be known for its German roots, but each March we gather to celebrate the city’s rich Irish heritage,” said Mike Boyle, Parade Director of the Shamrock Club of Wisconsin.
The traditional, family-friendly event features over 100 units including Irish dancers, pipe and drum corps, festive floats, local dignitaries and more. Each year, an estimated 20,000 people attend the Parade and support Downtown’s bars, restaurants and hotels.
“Community events – like the St. Patrick’s Day Parade – are important to the small businesses, as they bring new visitors to the area and drive additional dollars spent at our neighborhood establishments,” said Stacie Callies, Executive Director of Westown Association.
Spectators are invited to start their parade celebrations at the ShamROCK Kick-off Party on Friday, March 14 at the Lucky Clover Irish Pub, 1048 N. Martin Luther King Dr., from 5:30 to 9 p.m. The event is free, open to the public and features live music from folk-duo Frogwater, beverage specials and dozens of raffle prizes.
Following the Parade, the festivities continue at the Shamrock Club’s Post-Parade Party at the Irish Cultural & Heritage Center, 2133 W. Wisconsin Ave., from 2 to 6 p.m. Guests can expect performances from several of Milwaukee’s Irish dance schools, live music, traditional Irish fare and a super raffle. Entry is $10 per individual or $25 per family, and kids under 12 are free.
The Shamrock Club of Wisconsin St. Patrick’s Day Parade is one of the oldest St. Patrick’s Day celebrations in the nation, dating back to 1843. The Shamrock Club of Wisconsin has produced the parade since 1967 and has been in partnership with Westown Association since 2002.
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Molly Snyder started writing and publishing her work at the age 10, when her community newspaper printed her poem, "The Unicorn.” Since then, she's expanded beyond the subject of mythical creatures and written in many different mediums but, nearest and dearest to her heart, thousands of articles for OnMilwaukee.
Molly is a regular contributor to FOX6 News and numerous radio stations as well as the co-host of "Dandelions: A Podcast For Women.” She's received five Milwaukee Press Club Awards, served as the Pfister Narrator and is the Wisconsin State Fair’s Celebrity Cream Puff Eating Champion of 2019.
