Music, skaters & 'lots of dogs': Raleigh St. Patrick's Day Parade rolls on despite new restrictions
The city of Raleigh will celebrate St. Patrick's Day with its annual parade on Saturday.
The event, which starts at 10 a.m. in downtown, will roll this year without motorized vehicles, in response to the death of an 11-year-old girl while dancing in the 2022 Raleigh Christmas Parade.
The 2023 Raleigh St. Patrick's Day Parade had motorized vehicles, but restrictions were put into place – including requiring any drivers to be at least 21 years old and have only one passenger over the age of 18. All children had to be supervised, and parade vehicles had to be up to date with licenses, registration and insurance.
Last fall, as plans were in the works for the 2023 Raleigh Christmas Parade, the city moved to apply those limits to all parades.
The City of Raleigh told WRAL News on Friday that its staff is actively drafting revised parade safety guidelines. The city said it's currently accepting parade permit applications under the condition that the events do not include any moving vehicles, floats or similar elements.
Temperatures are expected to be in the 60s with mostly cloudy skies when the parade starts, according to the WRAL Weather Center.
WRAL News Anchor Jeff Hogan is this year's parade grand marshal.
The parade will start at 10 a.m. on the west side of the State Capitol Building at the intersection of Hillsborough and Salisbury streets. It will then go around the capitol before turning on Fayetteville Street and ending at Lenoir Street.
Parade organizers say there will be dancers, marching bands, skaters and "lots of dogs."
The official parade after-party will be held at Hibernian Pub, 311 Glenwood Ave. There will be live music, dancers and bagpipe performers.
