Worcester Irish Festival Will Return In 2022 Before Parade

WORCESTER, MA — In March, all the pent-up Irish from over the last two years will be unleashed upon Worcester.

The Board of License Commissioners on Thursday approved a permit for the Ancient Order of Hibernians Worcester Irish Festival, a typically annual festival that went into hibernation during the pandemic.

The cultural celebration will happen about a week before the return of the Worcester County St. Patrick's Day parade along Park Avenue.

The Hibernians' nine-hour Irish affair will be held on March 5 at St. Spyridon Greek Orthodox Church along Russell Street. The event might be a little more educational than the parade, with traditional Irish dancing, music and food on tap (there will also be beer on tap, and wine if you want).

The Worcester St. Patrick's Day parade will happen on March 13. The Board of License Commissioners also on Thursday approved a number of permits for restaurants along Park Avenue to offer outdoor food and drink service during the parade. For the 2022 event, no business will be able to serve outdoors after 6 p.m.

The St. Patrick's Day parade was one of the first big events to be canceled when the pandemic hit in March 2020, and was held off again in 2021. As if celebrating the end of the pandemic, this year's grand marshals will be City Manager Ed Augustus Jr and Worcester Medical Director Dr. Michael Hirsh, who emerged as a key figure in the city's fight against coronavirus.