According to the US Census, over 31 million US residents claim Irish heritage. But on St Patrick's Day, isn't everyone Irish? This year, St Patrick's Day officially falls on a Thursday. But since that happens to be a weekday, you might want to celebrate a little early. Visit Armory Park this Saturday for the family-friendly Tucson St Patrick's Day Parade and Festival.
What: Tucson St Patrick's Day Parade and Festival 2022
Where: Armory Park (220 S 6th Ave)
When: Saturday, March 12th, 8 am to 5 pm
Admission: FREE
Contact: Tucson St Patrick's Day email
Tucson St Patrick's Day Parade and Festival 2022
Early Morning Run/Walk
The theme for this year's festivities is "Sláinte Tucson" ("Cheers Tucson"). The day begins with one-mile and 5K Desert Leprechaun races at 8:15 am. Watch out for the cyclists and runners/walkers outside of Armory Park. If you wish to participate in this early morning race, register online here. The deadline to enter is this Thursday, March 10th. Even if you choose not to participate, you can always show up to cheer the racers on.
St Patrick's Day Parade
At 10:30 am, the parade begins. It starts off at Stone Ave and 17th St. Then, it proceeds north on Stone Ave to Ochoa, where it turns east towards Scott. After a quick jaunt south on Scott, it turns east on 12th St. At that point, the route turns south on 6th until it ends at Amory Park. Feel free to scout a good spot anywhere along that route ahead of time. Just make sure you head out to Armory Park afterward for an afternoon of live entertainment.
Festival Info
At 12 pm, the Irish National Anthem kicks off the opening ceremonies for the St Patrick's Day Festival. Local Tucson artist Nancy McCallion sings her version of Irish classics. Dance troupe the Celtic Steps perform traditional Irish dancing followed by the Maguire Academy of Irish Dance. Ohio-based Irish punk band Katie's Randy Cat brings the crowd to its feet with their raucous tunes. The day's live acts end with the band Puca performing Irish jigs and reels. Of course, no Irish festival would be complete without food and beer (for the 21+ crowd).
So, bring your appetites and put on your dancing shoes. You won't want to miss a moment of the Tucson St Patrick's Day Parade and Festival. Sláinte is táinte! Cheers and health to all!
Rebecca Schulte, Schulte Real Estate Group, Your Source for Tucson Real Estate
