St. Patrick’s Day Parade set for March 18 on Hughes

MADISON – A tribute to Irish customs and tradition will feature tongue-in-cheek humor at the fourth annual St. Patrick’s Day Family Parade and Pet Walk.

On March 18, the parade will start at 2 p.m. All participants, human and canine, will gather at Discovery Middle School, 1304 Hughes Road. Venture Crew 007 of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church organizes the event.

The parade will support St. Vincent De Paul Food Bank and Madison Animal Rescue Foundation or MARF. At previous year’s events, several hundred people, their pets and residents have donated thousands of pounds of nonperishable food donations that are in great need for families and pet agencies.

“Madison area residents and pet lovers again have an opportunity to support the local community by taking part in Madison’s own St. Patrick’s Day Family Parade and Pet Walk,” spokesperson Mark Richerson said.

“This is a fun gathering. Participants will walk a short distance, no more than three miles, to show their Irish spirit,” Richerson said. “The collection of food supplies are especially critical at this time of the year since the supplies dwindle following the winter holiday season. Non-perishable food donations will be collected — rain or shine.”

Venture Crew 007 is a boy- and girl-led branch of the Boy Scouts of America. The organization is open to young adults who have completed the eighth grade or are at least 12 years old. Venture Crew members can participate to age 21.

“In addition to organizing the St. Patrick’s Day Family Parade and Pet Walk, Venture Crew members also organize a Halloween haunted house in fall and participate in other group activities,” Richerson said.

For more information about the Venture Crew, call Keith Kosan at 850-687-0009.