TRAVERSE CITY - The Ancient Order of Hibernians will host the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade in downtown Traverse City on March 14. The parade is scheduled to begin at 1:30 p.m. and follows a tradition of celebrating Irish culture in the community that dates back to 1978.
The event features Irish dancers, community groups and festive floats traveling through the downtown area. Organizers said the parade serves as both a rite of spring in Northern Michigan and a way to highlight the charitable work of the Hibernians, who support local organizations like the Father Fred Foundation.
MiddleCoast Brewing serves as the base of operations for the Hibernians and the launch point for the parade. The bar opens at 9 AM for singing and hospitality before participants line up at 1 PM. The route will travel down Boardman to Front Street and Union Street, turning onto East State Street before returning to the brewery.
The Traverse City parade began in 1978 when an organization called the Irish Queens staged the event in conjunction with other local activities. The newly formed local chapter of the Ancient Order of Hibernians took over operations the following year. The group has organized the celebration alongside the Queens ever since.
The annual event also highlights the organization’s charitable work supporting local groups such as Dan’s House and the Father Fred Foundation. Tim Brisbois, president of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, noted that the group’s fundraising efforts have spanned many years.
“We’ve raised money for the Father Fred Foundation, and we’ve raised several million dollars over the years for the organization,” Brisbois said.
The parade is expected to take approximately one hour to complete. Festivities and music will continue at MiddleCoast Brewing throughout the afternoon and evening on March 14.