photo by Digidave

They say everybody’s Irish on St. Patrick’s Day. In Milwaukee, Wisconsin, you can be Irish for an entire week.

Irish Week kicked off March 4 with the Shamrock Club’s annual Birthday Party at the Irish Cultural Heritage Center. Irish Week spotlights  Irish culture and pride, and includes Irish dancers, music, and a Mass in Honor of St. Patrick. The week of festivities concludes on March 13 with the time-honored Shamrock Club of Wisconsin’s 44th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade in downtown Milwaukee, the biggest St. Patrick’s Day parade in Wisconsin.

While The Shamrock Club is celebrating its 44th anniversary of producing the parade, the tradition dates back to 1843, before Wisconsin had even achieved statehood. The parade takes place at noon, and features more than 150 units, including Irish dance groups, pipe and drum corps, local celebrities and dignitaries.

The parade will proceed east from the Shops of Grand Avenue on 3rd and Wisconsin, north on Plankinton, west on Kilbourn, north on Old World 3rd Street, east on Juneau, and south on Water Street.

Following the parade is the Shamrock Club’s Post Parade Party from 1 to 6 pm at the Irish Cultural and Heritage Center at 2133 West Wisconsin Avenue, headlined by Different Drums of Ireland.

If You Go
Save on your hotel with our discount travel coupon for the Baymont Inn & Suites of Glendale, Wisconsin,  or use this lodging discount for the AmericInn Lodge & Suites of Germantown, Wisconsin.
Parking is $2 during the event at the Shops at Grand Avenue.
Parade spectators are encouraged to bring non-perishable food items to donate. Volunteers collect the donations in shopping carts during the parade.