2018 Milwaukee St. Patrick's Day Parade Guide

MILWAUKEE, WI — The Shamrock Club of Wisconsin’s 52nd Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade will make its return to Downtown Milwaukee on Saturday, March 10th at Noon. The parade steps off on Wisconsin Avenue at Old World Third Street and will wind its way through the streets of Downtown Milwaukee.

Milwaukee's parade is Wisconsin’s oldest and largest St. Patrick’s Day celebration. Although the Shamrock Club of Wisconsin is celebrating its 52nd anniversary of producing the parade, the event dates back to 1843. It

predates the incorporation of the State of Wisconsin and the City of Milwaukee making it the sixth oldest St. Patrick’s Day Parade in the nation.

Parade Line-up

This year’s parade will feature more than 100 units including Irish dance groups, pipe and drum corps and local celebrities and dignitaries.

The parade showcases dozens of Irish community groups, including: all six schools of Irish dance from southeastern Wisconsin, the Milwaukee Hurling Club, the Irish Cultural and Heritage Center, Irish Fest, local Irish Wolfhound and Irish Setter clubs, The Emerald Society, the Ancient

Order of Hibernians, among others. Milwaukee now boasts six schools of Irish dance: Cashel-Dennehy, Glencastle, Kinsella, McMenamin, Beglan Academy of Irish Dance, and Trinity, and all will appear in the parade.

The Friends of St. Patrick, in partnership with the Hunger Task Force, will collect non-perishable food items during the parade. Volunteers will walk the parade route with grocery carts to collect any donations.

The parade travels east on West Wisconsin Avenue, north on North Plankinton Avenue, west on
West Kilbourn Avenue, North on North Old World 3rd Street, east on West and East Juneau
Avenue, and south on North Water Street terminating at East Highland Avenue. A map of the route is below:

Where to Watch

Parade organizers say some great viewing spots to watch the parade include: the start of the parade in front of the Shops of Grand Avenue - which is a good location for families. They also recommend setting up camp near the Reviewing Stand at Pere Marquette Park on Old World Third Street - where the parade announcer is stationed. They also noted that there are many parties on the Old World Third Street and Water Street entertainment districts.

• 8:30 a.m.: Mass In Honor Of St Patrick, St Patrick's Church, 723 W. Washington St.
• Noon: Parade – Downtown Milwaukee
• 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.: Lunch time Entertainment at the Shops of Grand Avenue - Frogwater
• 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.: Post-Parade Party, Irish Cultural And Heritage Center, 21st And Wisconsin $5 per person over 12; family maximum cost is $15 - Four stages of entertainment - family friendly event.

File Photo Via Getty Images