Mayor Purzycki Welcomes St. Patrick’s Day Festivities Back to Downtown Wilmington This Saturday Following Two-Year Absence

March 9, 2022

The Irish Culture Club of Delaware’s 45^th Annual Parade along King Street will be followed by its Hooley near 15^th and King Streets Downtown

Mayor Mike Purzycki is excited to welcome back to Downtown Wilmington the Irish Culture Club of Delaware’s popular St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Hooley on Saturday, March 12, 2022. The Mayor, who was honored to serve as the grand marshal of the last parade in 2019, will join club members and Police Chief Robert J. Tracy for the painting the ceremonial green stripe on King Street at noon on Friday.

“The St. Patrick’s Day Parade is a marvelous City tradition, and I am so happy to see it return after a two-year, pandemic-induced hiatus,” said Mayor Purzycki. “The Irish have a long, proud history in Wilmington dating back centuries, and the community continues to thrive to this day. We’re eager to once again welcome families, neighbors, and friends from around the City, state, and region to our thriving Downtown district for the parade and party atmosphere. And while here, please take time to patronize our many other local attractions and restaurants.”

 

The free, family-friendly parade kicks off at 4^th and King Streets in downtown Wilmington beginning at 12:00 p.m. Floats, marching bands, dancers and more will proceed up King Street, continue past the Parade Grandstand at Rodney Square, and end near 14^th Street where the Post-Parade Hooley will be held. The Parade is expected to take about one hour and the Hooley will end no later than 3 p.m.

Road closures associated with this event will begin at 11 a.m. and continue until about 4 p.m. Roadway closures are as follows:

•King Street from East 2^nd Street to East 15^th Street

•East 4^th Street from Walnut to Shipley Street

•East 8^th Street from Walnut to Market Street

•3^rd, 4^th, 5^th, 6^th and 7^th Streets, from King to Market Street

•9^th, 10^th, 11^th, 12^th, 13^th, 14^th and 15^th Streets, from French to Market Street

•Southbound vehicular traffic on North Market Street will also be diverted to North Park Drive – West 18^th Street prior to the Market Street Bridge

Parking is prohibited during the Parade on the following streets: 

•On 10^th Street, from North King Street to North Shipley Street

•On the unit block of East 11^th Street, between North Market Street and North King Street

•On North Shipley Street, from 4^th Street to 5^th Street 

DART will be detouring buses around the Parade route. Please check their website at dartfirststate.com for more information.