Huntsville St. Patrick’s Day Parade celebrates 46 years on Saturday

HUNTSVILLE – The Ellen McAnelly Memorial St. Patrick’s Day Parade will take place this Saturday, March 11, at 11 a.m. and will be held in downtown Huntsville. The community event, organized by the Irish Society of North Alabama, will be celebrating its 46th year.

“Last year was our first parade since 2019 and although it was very cold, it was a great success. It felt good to bring back one of Huntsville’s largest parades.” Said Lisa Bollinger, Parade Director. “We are thrilled to honor Ellen McAnelly, the parade’s founder, with a celebration of the Irish, and those who are Irish for the day.”

The parade lineup has been set with over 90 groups participating, including St. Patrick, a long-time parade tradition. Parade participants include specialty car groups, birthday celebrations, local companies and organizations, a band, horses, floats, pirates, firetrucks and the Leprechaun on a Trike; who has been in every parade since 1979. The Huntsville Fire and Rescue Pipe Band will be leading the parade, this will be the first time an official pipe band has led the St. Patrick’s Day parade in Huntsville.

The official “parade-after-party” takes place at Straight to Ale Brewing at Campus 805. This family friendly event includes live music, games, drink and food specials.

VIP Guests

• Grand Marshal: Máirtín Ó Muilleoir from Belfast, Ireland
• Parade Queen: Abby Amis
• Connacht Princess: Katelyn Bray
• Leinster Princess: Brenna Murphy
• Munster Princesses: Alice Handley and Kalina Murray
• Ulster Princess: Elena Aiello

Parade Route and Road Closures:

• The parade route will begin at Lot K on the corner of Woodson and Holmes and go through downtown Huntsville. The parade briefly will stop at St. Mary of the Visitation Catholic Church on Jefferson Street for the annual blessing of the parade and Irish and American flags. The parade will head south on Jefferson Street, around Southside Square and north on Washington Street. The parade will end at the corner of Meridian and Cleveland Streets.
• The Parade Route will close at 10 a.m. Woodson Street between Clinton and Holmes may close earlier than 10 a.m. if necessary.

Parade Sponsors:

• Presenting sponsor: Straight to Ale Brewing
• Province Sponsors: Innerspace Brewing, Jefferson Street Pub, Green Bus Brewing, The Martin
• Emerald Sponsors: Father Trecy Division of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, Aiello Family, Torch Technologies
• Friends of the Parade Sponsors: Maggie McGuinness Pub, Samples/Ryan Families, Sweets & Greets

Parade History:

• The parade is named after the parade’s founder, Ellen McAnelly, who died in 2009. She opened Finnegan’s Pub in 1977 and held the first parade in 1978 near Finnegan’s and around the Parkway. It was known as the smallest St. Patrick’s Day parade in the United States, with only 18 people participating. The parade was held in Madison in 1997 and moved to downtown Huntsville in 1998 and after.