200,000 Expected to Watch St. Patrick’s Day Parade

Gallant men, fair maidens and dancing chunks of Irish stew will pour into downtown streets Saturday for San Diego’s fifth annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade--the largest such lineup in California, organizers said.

The parade, featuring 7,000 to 8,000 participants in 250 units of marching bands, floats, dancers and equestrians, is expected to attract 200,000 spectators, said Jim Foley, founder of the parade.

“Everyone under the sun is Irish on St. Paddy’s Day,” Foley said. “Everybody is getting involved.”

“Unity with Our Men and Women in the Military” is the theme of this year’s parade, said Eileen Callahan, publicity chairwoman of the Irish Congress of Southern California.

To begin at noon, the parade will follow a 2 1/2-mile route, starting at 6th Avenue and Juniper Street. The marchers will proceed south on 6th to Grape Street, west on Grape to 5th Avenue, north on 5th to Upas Street, then east to 6th, and south again on 6th to its conclusion at Juniper.

Sharing the title of grand marshal will be Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Anthony Lukeman, commander of the Marine Corp Recruit Depot, and retired Rear Adm. James D. Ramage.

Those following the grand marshals’ car will include an 11-man bicycle team; a giant pot of live “Irish stew”; the Good, Bad and Ugly Bartenders; the Ocean Beach Geriatric Precision Surf Club Marching Team, and military and high school marching bands.

Entries were restricted to local groups, Foley said, to promote community pride and solidarity.

Chuck Fox, former president of the Irish American Congress, said the 70,000 Irish people in San Diego County began celebrating St. Patrick’s Day in mid-February with family gatherings. And, the parade allows the rest of the community to share in the festivities.

“I’ve look forward to this all year,” Fox said. “St. Patrick’s Day is Christmas and Easter and the Fourth of July all rolled into one.”

After the 2 1/2-hour parade, there will be a festival in Balboa Park, Callahan said. Entertainers will include local singer Brian Connally, the Irish Step Dancers and Irish folk singers.

Vendors will sell corned beef, hamburgers, hot dogs, beer and Guinness ale, Callahan said. But no green beer. “We want to keep the celebration as authentic as possible.”