While most St. Patrick’s Day celebrations across the country took place last week – with the holiday falling on March 17 – Mississippi’s largest Irish get-together will take over the streets of downtown Jackson this upcoming weekend.
Tens of thousands are expected to gather in the capital city on Friday and Saturday for the 43rd annual Hal’s St. Paddy’s Parade and Festival. The free festivities are highlighted by Saturday’s main parade, themed “Stars, Stripes, and Shamrocks – Jackson Celebrates America250,” along with two additional parades for kids and pets and a blowout afterparty that will keep the celebration going well into the night.
Parade weekend begins Friday with “The Stomp,” a New Orleans-style second-line march from Cathead Distillery to Hal & Mal’s. Food, drinks, and music will flow at both locations – and along the route – to kick off the festive weekend. The event runs from 4 p.m. to 7:15 p.m.
Saturday’s events begin with the Mississippi Animal Rescue League’s Pet Parade at 10 a.m., featuring some of the metro area’s finest furry friends. The Hal’s St. Paddy’s Children’s Parade follows at 11 a.m., giving youngsters a chance to command the emerald spotlight and compete for awards. Both parades begin at Smith Park.
Then, it’s time for the big shebang.
Jackson Mayor John Horhn will serve as this year’s grand marshal. The former state senator and first-year mayor will signal the start of the parade at noon.
With a new route this year, the parade will begin on Court Street in front of Cathead Distillery before turning onto West Street. From there, it will ride until the Mississippi Governor’s Mansion, continue along Capitol Street, turn onto State Street, and wrap up on the opposite end of Court Street.
While the parade wraps up Saturday afternoon, the party will just be getting started.
Gates open at Hal & Mal’s at noon for the official afterparty, with live music beginning at 2 p.m. Performers include DJ 13lackbeard, The Chee-Weez, AJC & The Envelope Pushers, and Honey Island Swamp Band. Next door at the Ice House, an all-you-can-eat crawfish boil will run from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m., while across the street at Martin’s Downtown, the party continues late into the night with DJ Swiftie, a Taylor Swift tribute DJ. Afterparty festivities will have various admission costs.
For more details on the festivities, visit the Hal’s St. Paddy’s Parade & Festival’s official website.