March 16, 2013 at 10:00 am Denver turns green.
Parade route starts at 27th and Blake, Blake to 17th, 17th to Wynkoop, Wynkoop to 19th,v19th to Wewata, around to Coors Field parking lot. Residents of downtown will be up and out early dressed in green and celebrating.
Denver St. Patrick’s Day Parade is organized by a group of volunteers with such a respect for the Irish culture they wish to share with the entire Denver community. The parade dates back to 1889. The tradition was that the Ancient Order of Hibernians had a Grand Ball the night before the parade. The Rocky Mountain News covered the parade and the Grand Ball for many years. At the end of the parade all attended high Mass at St. Elisabeth’s Church.
The parade continued from 1889 to 1921, from 1907 to 1920 the parade and Ball were the most well attended social events in the region.
The parade and Ball disappeared from the streets of Denver until 1962. Although there are many “pub stories” of how the parade resurfaced. The “official parade” came back to the streets of Denver on April 17th, 1962 when Lord Mayor of Dublin, Robert Briscoe.
His honor was picked up at Stapleton Airport, Denver by Lt Gov. Robert Knous and Bernard Duffy; Bernard Duffy of Duffy’s Shamrock Tavern and Irish Coffee House. After a meeting at The Brown Palace Hotel to promote Irish products and industry, all went to Duffy’s Shamrock restaurant Bar at 1635 Court Street and talked about organizing the official parade in 1963, many of those first meetings were held in Duffy’s bar.
The Parade Committee officially formed and Denver held its first “official” St. Patrick’s Day Parade since the 1920s. 70 floats and marching entries were in the parade that year and the streets were lined with spectators, in what was called “one of the worst windstorms in years.”
In 1986 this group of volunteers officially incorporated as the Denver St Patrick’s Day Parade Committee, Inc.
Whether you are a family staking out your favorite spot with chairs and blankets or prefer a spot outside your favorite restraint/pub you are sure to once again enjoy the parade.
R.R.Cratty
http://www.denverstpatricksdayparade.com/parade-info/parade-route
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