The St. Patrick's Day Parade is returning to Downtown Milwaukee this month after a two-year COVID-induced absence. 

Put on by the Shamrock Club of Wisconsin, the St. Patrick's Day Parade will march at noon on Saturday, March 12, taking off from North Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive and West Wisconsin Avenue before making its way to Water Street and Highland Avenue. The full route, as well as resulting road closures, can be found here. 

“We are thrilled to bring the St. Patrick’s Day Parade back to Downtown’s streets and celebrate our city’s rich Irish heritage,” said Mike Boyle, Shamrock Club of Wisconsin Parade Director, in a press release. "After a few years away, we are planning a very special event and know families will be delighted to see the return of one of Milwaukee’s favorite traditions."

'The Parade is Milwaukee’s largest St. Patrick’s Day celebration that attracts thousands of visitors to the Westown neighborhood, driving traffic to the many local businesses that were heavily impacted by the pandemic," said Stacie Callies, Executive Director of Westown Association, in a release. "Our shops, bars and restaurants depend on important community events like the St. Patrick’s Day Parade and look forward to seeing parade-goers support our businesses."

The 2022 parade honorees include Irishman of the Year Pete Fleming, Irish Rose Maureen McGarry Konkol, and Parade Marshalls former Alderman (and current Milwaukee mayoral candidate) Bob Donovan and Kathy Donovan. Plus, as one of the first major parades in the city since the tragic 2021 Waukesha Christmas parade, the St. Patrick's Day Parade will pay special tribute to those impacted by the incident, honoring the victims – including the Milwaukee Dancing Grannies, who will also perform in the parade – as well as the first responders during the event. 

“Our hearts go out to the victims of the Waukesha Christmas Parade. It is our intention to stage a safe event for our performers and guests, and we are working closely with city officials to review safety procedures for the event," Boyle said, in the release. 

Befitting the event's long-awaited return, the parade won't just be a one-afternoon ordeal but rather a two-day celebration, beginning Friday, March 11, with a press conference at 3rd Street Market Hall at noon, complete with a performance from Beglan Academy of Irish Dance. Later that night, from 5:30 to 11 p.m., the Miller Time Pub & Grill will host a free parade kick-off party featuring performances from Ian Gould and Pat McCurdy as well as a raffle. 

On the day of the parade, the festivities will begin with a mass at St. Patrick's Church, 723 W Washington St., at 8:30 a.m. Then, after the parade, the Shamrock Club will throw a post-event party at the Irish Cultural & Heritage Center, 2133 W. Wisconsin Ave. Tickets for the post-parade entertainment cost $8 for adults and $20 for families (three or more adults). For more information on the post-parade festivities and tickets, click here. 

For more information on the St. Patrick's Day Parade and the entire weekend of activities, visit the event's website.