A Guide to St. Patrick's Day Parades in New Orleans

New Orleans is a city that loves a good parade and St. Patrick's Day is no exception. New Orleans and the surrounding communities will be rolling out the green floats, cabbage throws and shamrock beads starting the weekend before St. Patrick's day and rolling through the holiday. All of the parades are free to attend and kid friendly.

The Top St. Patrick's Day Parades Around New Orleans

Irish Channel St. Patrick's Day Club

2011 marks the 64^th St. Patrick's Day mass and parade held in New Orleans. The parade gets started on the corner of Felicity and Magazine in the Irish Channel neighborhood of the city. Families can catch all their ingredients needs for cabbage soup along with beads and other throws at the parade. The parade starts at 1 p.m. March 12^th, 2011. Families can also attend the benefit block party in the Annunciation Square Playground on March 17^th at 10:00 a.m. All proceeds from the block party will go to St. Micheal's Special School in the Irish Channel.

Irish- Italian- Islenos Parade

Every year, St. Bernard Parish holds one of the largest St. Patrick's Day parades in Southeastern Louisiana. 44 floats holding over a 1000 riders will throw about 250,000 pounds of cabbage, onions, apples, potatoes, carrots and other produce, according to the St. Bernard Parish Government. The parade starts at 11 a.m., March 4^th 2011, outside of the Frederick J. Sigur Civic Center in Chalmette, Louisiana.

Irish-Italian Parade

The Irish-Italian Parade in Metairie, Louisiana stretches across a three mile route in Old Metairie. Riders will throw a variety of produce and beads into the crowd along the parade route. Visitors can also catch interesting throws such as green plastic bowls, cups and utensil sets. The parade starts at noon on March 13^th outside of Rummel High School on Severn Ave and ends at the corner of Focis and Canal Street.

Slidell's St. Patrick's Day Parade

Across Lake Pontchartrain on the North Shore, visitors can see both a huge St. Patrick's Day parade in Slidell, Louisiana. The parade rolls through Slidell's Old Towne area and includes super floats, cars, vans, smaller truck floats, marching bands and dancers. Riders will throw produce, doubloons, beads and other throws. The parade starts at 1:00 p.m. in front of City Hall. Visitors should get there early to see the opening ceremonies including an awards show for best costume. The King and Queen and their court will also be announced outside of City Hall before the parade starts. The parade itself weaves through Old Towne and ends up at the corner of First and Erlanger.

Parade March, Irish Channel St. Patrick's Day Club.

St. Bernard Irish Italian Islenos Parade and Marching Club rolls Sunday, St. Bernard Parish Government.
St. Patricks Parade Route, Jefferson Parish.
Erik Sanzenbach, Time to Sign up for the Annual St. Patrick's Day Parade in Slidell, St. Tammany News.