Muskegon St. Patrick’s Day Parade March 17

7th Annual Muskegon St. Patrick’s Day Parade set for Saturday, March 17

Family celebration of Muskegon County’s Irish Heritage seeks marchers, floats

Muskegon, MI – Break out the green on Saturday, March 17 – St. Patrick’s Day – for the 7th Annual Muskegon St. Patrick’s Day Parade, stepping off at 11:00 a.m. from 4th Street and Clay Avenue and marching east along Clay to Jefferson Street.

This family-oriented parade is sponsored by Hennessy’s Irish Pub & Restaurant and the Greater Muskegon Jaycees, and is designed to celebrate Muskegon County’s Irish Heritage. Families, organizations, fraternal groups, businesses, marching bands, churches and schools are invited to join in the fun and march in this exciting event.

The Grand Marshalls for this year’s parade are members of the Mullally Family of Muskegon. James Mullally is the only living founder of the Muskegon Irish American Society, established over 45 years ago. Neil Mullally served as a Muskegon County judge for over 30 years, and has been a leader in numerous public service organizations. John Mullally is an author and retired long-time dentist. Richard Mullally has devoted many years of his life to honoring our Muskegon County World War II veterans. All Mullally’s, whether related or not, are invited to join the Grand Marshalls in the parade!

“We’re very pleased to again sponsor the 7th Annual Muskegon St. Patrick’s Day Parade,” said Nancy Hennessy, owner of Hennessy’s Irish Pub & Restaurant, 885 Jefferson Street in downtown Muskegon. “The parade has become an annual tradition in Muskegon, drawing hundreds of marchers and thousands of spectators, and this year, for our seventh parade, we’re planning for even more marching units and spectators at the parade. Everyone in Muskegon County and West Michigan is invited to participate!”

“We’re inviting families to march in the parade again too, to represent their Irish roots with banners and posters identifying their ‘home county’ back in Ireland,” added Mike Hennessy, Nancy’s husband and owner of Hennessy’s Irish Pub & Restaurant.

Sponsor your group and walk the parade route or design a float and ride through downtown Muskegon along “O’Clay Avenue”! The only cost to march or sponsor a float is a non-perishable food donation to benefit The Food Pantry of Catholic Charities of West Michigan. The Jaycees will be accepting food donations from parade spectators along the route.

The Muskegon St. Patrick’s Day Parade steps off at 11:00 a.m. from 4th Street and Clay Avenue and proceeds east on Clay to Jefferson. Parade staging area will be in the Muskegon Community College Downtown Campus parking lot on Clay Avenue between 4th and 5th Streets. The general public is encouraged to line Clay Avenue along the parade route to enjoy the festivities.

All day on Saturday, March 17, Hennessy’s (www.hennessyspub.com) will offer live Irish entertainment, Irish dancing and a special St. Patrick’s Day menu in the restaurant and pub. Hennessy’s will open at 8:00 a.m., and remain open throughout the day until 12:00 midnight with live Irish entertainment.

“The Greater Muskegon Jaycees are excited to be involved in the 7th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade, a great family event that also helps people in need throughout the county,” said Kara Zielinski, president of the Jaycees. “We encourage everyone to come on out and march in the parade or watch along Clay Avenue, and be sure to bring along non-perishable food items for The Food Pantry!”

If your family, organization, school, church or group wants to march in the 7th Annual Muskegon St. Patrick’s Day Parade, please contact the Greater Muskegon Jaycees at parade@muskegonjaycees.org for a complete registration packet, or pick up a packet in person at Visit Muskegon, the Muskegon County Convention & Visitors Bureau, 610 W. Western Avenue in downtown Muskegon, 231-724-3100. Registration forms are also available at the Muskegon St. Patrick’s Day Parade website at: http://www.muskegonjaycees.org/parade.html.

Again, there is no cost to march or participate in the Muskegon St. Patrick’s Day Parade, just a donation of non-perishable food items. Spectators are also encouraged to bring non-perishable food items to the parade for collection by the Greater Muskegon Jaycees.

On St. Patrick’s Day, Saturday, March 17, Hennessy’s Irish Pub & Restaurant will be open from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 midnight with live Irish music.

11:00 a.m. St. Patrick’s Day Parade step-off
11:30 a.m. – Noon Free coffee and Hot Chocolate Tent
12:00 Noon Irish Flag Raising w/ Irish American Society
Music
12:00 – 3:00 p.m. Dave McIntire and Scott Sheldon
3:00 – 8:00 p.m. Steeple Hill
8:30 p.m. – Midnight Knotwork Celtic
Costume Contest
9:30 p.m. Annual Costume Parade
10:00 p.m. Crowd judging of Costumes

For more information on the parade or additional the St. Patrick’s Day activities, contact the Greater Muskegon Jaycees at parade@muskegonjaycees.org or the Muskegon County Convention & Visitors Bureau at 231-724-3100 or info@visitmuskegon.org.