Alas, kisses for flowers and hand-tossed cabbages from floats will not be part of this year’s St. Patrick’s Day celebration as the Irish Channel Parade has been cancelled for the second year in a row for coronavirus safety. As a safe alternative, the Irish Channel St. Patrick’s Day Club has partnered with Parasol’s Bar & Restaurant in the Irish Channel, and The Holy Ground Irish Pub in Mid-City to continue its mission of raising funds for charities while still spreading Irish cheer.  For the whole month of March, customers can receieve a free green beer at either establishment in exchange for a donation to St. Michael Special School.

Additionally, on St. Patrick’s Day, March 17,  from 10 a.m to 1 p.m. the club is asking those who might have otherwise attended the parade to participate in a drive-through style event where guests are asked to provide a cash or credit card donation to St. Michael Special School, in exchange for a free gift from the children of the school. The school is located at 1522 Chippewa Street. Safety measures will be in place, including required masks and social distancing. 

As the Irish Channel St. Patrick’s Day Club has done since 1947, an annual Mass that normally precedes the parade will be held on Saturday, March 13, at 12 p.m. in St. Mary’s Assumption Church, located at 923 Josephine Street.

For more information, visit the Irish Channel St. Patrick’s Day Parade Club on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat.