Alexandria Saint Patrick's Day Parade 2018 Set For Early March

ALEXANDRIA, VA—The annual St. Patrick's Day Parade, a tradition for 37 years in Old Town Alexandria, is set to return Saturday, March 3 at 12:15 p.m. on King Street. The parade will start at the intersection of Pitt Street. A car show will precede the parade from 10 a.m.-noon.

Bernadette and Pat Troy, who founded the parade in 1982 and own the Irish Walk boutique on King Street, will serve as the grand marshals this year.

Pat Troy immigrated to the U.S. in the 1960s from Ireland. He and his wife Bernadette opened Irish Walk in 1980 and started the parade two years later. Since then, the volunteer group Ballyshaners have organized the parade.

“Leading the organization in the year when we are honoring the Troys is a marvelous opportunity. The community is excited to celebrate Pat and Bernadette," said Ballyshaners chairman Kimberley Moore.

The organizers also hold the Fun Dog Show in coordination with the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria before the parade. The Fun Dog Show will be held at Market Square at 10:45 am and hosted by WUSA's Peggy Fox.

The contest awards "Pet Troy Award" trophies for a number of categories: Dog – Owner Look Alike, St. Patrick’s Spirit Award, Best Costume and Most Talented. Then the dogs will kick off the the parade at Pitt and King Streets. There will also be vendors selling pet products at Market Square starting at 10:30 a.m.

To cover the parade costs, the Ballyshaners are holding a fundraiser Sunday, Feb. 18 from 4 p.m.-7 p.m. at Murphy’s Irish Pub Old Town.

Images via Ballyshaners, used with permission