St. Patrick’s Parade Shifts To Edgewood Avenue

Gather on Edgewood Avenue. And don’t even think about drinking in public.

Officials issued those marching orders Wednesday at a press conference about this year’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Ed Evers and Walter Pastet (pictured) filled the City Hall atrium with a bagpipe preview of the sounds they’ll make at the parade with the rest of the Connecticut Firefighters Pipes and Drums crew.

The annual event, the largest annual parade in Connecticut, draws an estimated 250,000 people each spring to New Haven’s streets. This year’s parade, the 58th, begins Sunday March 16 at 1:30 p.m. Because of construction on Chapel Street, units will gather on Edgewood Avenue at the corner of Sherman Avenue, and march up to Howe Street before turning right toward Chapel Street for the customary final stretch. The new route is pictured above.

“It’s a family day. It’s not a day for public drinking,” declared Assistant Police Chief Luiz Casanova. ​“Police officers will be out there with ticket books” to fine people $99 if they imbibe in full view. ​“Leave your coolers at home, please.”

The department is posting these notices around town to get the word out. They borrowed a graphic from across the pond to make the point.

Morgan Hildebrandt (at left in photo) will serve as the parade’s ​“honor attendant.” (She came in second in the competition for the parade queen title.) Retired New Haven Assistant Police Chief Petisia Adger (at right) is serving as parade coordinator.

Tim Gallogly is the parade chair.

Here’s a scene from 2011’s parade; find more here.