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February 29, 2008

No misstep here; Pawtucket St. Pat's parade tomorrow

The Pawtucket St. Patrick’s Day Parade is getting ready to roll.

Although it’s more than two weeks before the day the world typically celebrates the patron saint of Ireland, March 17, the parade is scheduled this year for tomorrow, March 1.

And yes, the mayor’s office said, it’s on, despite the fact that tomorrow’s forecast isn’t exactly parade friendly: A wintry mix of 2 to 4 inches of sleet and snow with temperatures in the mid-30s.

For the first time since 1940, St. Patrick’s Day falls during Holy Week, the week before the Christian holiday of Easter. The Roman Catholic Church has said masses in honor of Patrick cannot be held during the week. And some bishops are trying to keep parades and other celebrations from going on, too.

Pawtucket's parade, however, was not moved to accommodate those wishes -- it's traditionally been one of the earliest celebrations in the state.

Led by state Rep. Peter F. Kilmartin, the procession will start at Jenks Junior High, taking Walcott Street to downtown and ending in front of City Hall.

After the parade, there will be food and music at the Pawtucket Armory on Exchange Street; $2 for adults and free for kids 12 and younger.

To accommodate the parade, the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority will detour buses in Pawtucket. Click to see the changes.

-- With reports from the Journal archives and the Associated Press

Posted by Brandie Jefferson  at 3:50 PM | Permalink

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David Grinnell | February 29, 2008 5:15 PM link

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