The Downtown Improvement District may be best known for painted planters, bike racks, Restaurant Week and keeping Harrisburg’s main business district nice and tidy.
This month, it will add another project to its rapidly growing portfolio—the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade, taking up the mantle from the long-time organizers, the Capital Region Association of Irish and Celts (CRAIC).
Many things will remain the same as before: bands, bagpipes, floats, dancers and, of course, a central location to grab a pint or two. But HDID is adding some of its own touches, including a new route and a race prior to the parade.
“It is a very positive thing for the city,” said Director of Marketing and Special Events Leigh Ann Urban. “Anything that the Downtown Improvement District can do to help encourage and promote the positivity of the city, we’re willing to do.”
Welcoming, Inviting
Last year, CRAIC notified local businesses and past participants that they would no longer host the parade. As members left and the organization shrank, running such a mammoth operation became too much, said President Morgan Williams-Fake.
“When we were very successful with fundraising is when the downtown bars were doing very good,” he said. “The parade was one of their biggest revenue draws, single-event wise.”
With no one to take their place, HDID began to consider taking on the project, which, Urban said, fits into the organization’s mission of creating a welcoming and inviting downtown.
“In some aspect, we’ve always been involved, we’ve always promoted the parade,” she said. “Anything they’ve needed, we’ve always tried to help out.”
To include more businesses and bars, the parade route will shift. It still will begin on Walnut Street, but then will turn onto N. 4th Street followed by Market Street before turning on to N. 2nd to North to 3rd streets. The route also will take the parade past several new downtown apartment buildings, now filled up with residents.
“They can look outside their big picture windows right to the parade,” Urban said.
Another new feature is the “Harrisburg Lucky Charm 5K/10K” race, which will end just as the parade begins. Parade-goers and pub-crawlers will already be in place to cheer on runners as they finish.
“As soon as they’re done, the parade starts and comes around the other side,” Urban said.
This new element may bring challenges of timing, but the outcome, according to Urban, will be worth it.
“This year, it’s going to be a thousand people running,” she said. “So, you’ll have a thousand people and their families who come to watch them finish, that are guaranteed to be down here to watch the parade.”
Better Position
More people at the parade, of course, means more business downtown, said Tom Scott of McGrath’s Pub.
“It’s a chaotic day,” he said. “But it’s fun, because it starts early and goes all day.”
Like many businesses, McGrath’s will open early—at 8 a.m. Breakfast and beer will be served for ambitious celebrators looking to get a head start on the day’s festivities.
The traditional Irish bar, one of the last of its kind in downtown Harrisburg, has taken part in celebrating the St. Patrick’s Day Parade since it opened 15 years ago.
“We have a limited menu—it’s all Irish food,” Scott said. “Lots of things that we’ve had on our menu before, like bangers and mash and other Irish meals. We get people who come in for breakfast, lunch and dinner. They’re there all day.”
Scott looks forward to the changes that HDID is making this year, but also sympathizes with the challenges that CRAIC had, saying that, while businesses prospered from the parade and crowds, there wasn’t enough willingness to give back to the event.
“That’s always the issue, trying to get the money to pull it off,” he said. “[CRAIC] always struggled with the sponsorships and the money. And I think the DID is going to do a lot better that way. Financially, they’re in a much better position.”
Urban said that this year’s parade will have all the favorites, including pipe and drum bands and traditional Irish dancing. Local shops and businesses have been encouraged to open up early, especially for people who may be visiting Harrisburg for the first time.
“This is just one more way for us to put on a positive event and showcase downtown and how great it really is,” Urban said.
The Harrisburg St. Patrick’s Day Parade takes place March 18, starting at 1 p.m., at the corner of Walnut and Aberdeen streets. The “Lucky Charm 5K/10K” race precedes the event. For more information, visit www.harrisburgstpatricksdayparade.com.
Author: Rachel Jenkins
