Courtesy: Hilton Head Island St. Patrick’s Day Parade
Since spring is one of the best times of year to visit Hilton Head (not only is the weather mild, but the flowers are all fragrant and blooming), it makes sense that one of our top events of the year takes place in March: the St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
Expect upwards of 25,000 (yes, we said THOUSAND) people to head out to the streets of our small island decked out in green to celebrate this annual Irish tradition. “It’s a major event for such a small town,” says Tom Reilley, who founded the parade in 1983.
Scheduled for Sunday, March 16 at 3 p.m., the parade will start on Pope Avenue across from Lagoon Road and head along Pope Avenue until it reaches Office Park Road where it will conclude at Park Plaza. The parade takes about one hour from start to finish.
Look forward to marching bands, Shriners, dancers, local dignitaries, local businesses, possibly the Anheuser-Busch Clydesdales (who’ve participated in many years past) and more. Dr. Neil Love, a local obstetrician who helped establish the island’s first obstetrics ward, will serve as the parade’s grand marshal for 2014.
According to the Hilton Head Island Packet, the parade received a commendation from Hilton Head Island Town Council last yaer in honor of its 30th anniversary. “Since the 1983 inaugural St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Hilton Head Island the parade has grown to over 28,000 spectators,” Mayor Drew Laughlin said in a statement. “This is an amazing feat for a small island with just over 37,000 permanent residents. The success of the parade shows what can be accomplished when residents work together and volunteer their time, talent and resources.”
The Island Packet offers a great map of the route with traffic closings for those looking to attend the parade. We recommend hopping on your bike (let us know if we can help with Hilton Head bike rentals) and staking out a spot early along the parade route.
For more information about Hilton Head vacation rentals, visit www.sunsetrentals.com or call 800-276-8991.
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