March brings to Bellingham the return of brighter days and as importantly, the community-wide St Patrick’s Day Parade at noon on Sunday, March 16th.
Created as a way to honor local public safety personnel, the community parade has grown each year with participants and spectators filling downtown streets with upbeat music, rainbows, festive costumes, and boundless joy and merriment.
Two special Grand Marshals will lead this year’s parade. Ed Bennett and Janet Lighter, owners of Boundary Bay Brewery and Bistro, were selected as a way to thank them for their commitment to the community and parade. Lightner was instrumental in creating the parade and has been on its nonprofit board since the beginning. Boundary Bay has been a cornerstone of downtown and the Bellingham community. This year marks their 30th anniversary and their final year in business.
Bennett and Lightner will lead the parade of green clad musicians, dancers, marchers, local businesses, nonprofits, schools and groups which all make Bellingham and Whatcom County unique and special.
There is still time to join the parade. Those participating without vehicles are not required to register. Those who would like to participate are to gather on Laurel St, off Cornwall Ave ready to march and have fun.
The parade of green starts on Granary Ave., turns right onto Chestnut, and ends on Railroad Ave, in front of Boundary Bay Brewery, Bellingham’s unofficial St Patrick’s Day headquarters.
Festivities continue at Boundary Bay’s St Patrick’s Day celebration with live Irish music and dancers inside the restaurant and outside in the all ages Beer Garden. Other downtown businesses will be open with Irish offerings and festivities to enjoy.
The parade is made possible because of sponsorships from local businesses like Boundary Bay, and also from individual donations. This year fundraising includes selling up to 100 tickets for a 50/50 raffle. One lucky winner will turn their $25 ticket into 50% of the money raised (up to $1,250). Tickets will be available at the parade and the drawing will be held in Boundary’s Beer Garden at 3pm.
Visit stpatsbham.com for more parade details, including ADA access.
Sláinte!
