MONROE — The 19th annual Monroe St. Patrick’s Day Parade will begin at 1:17 p.m. March 16. 

The parade will again feature local music, marching bands and various community groups. Over 30 parade entrants are anticipated. 

For Main Street Monroe, which also organizes the Halloween Parade and Lighted Christmas Parades, the St. Patrick’s Day Parade is its largest and an unofficial kick off to its calendar of events. These include First Thursday Shopping Nights, Concerts on the Square, the downtown car shows and annual summer theme. 

Green County, and neighboring Iowa, Lafayette and Rock counties, all have populations with Irish heritage well above the state and national averages.

Long time Main Street volunteers Jim and Veronica Bruce are once again coordinating the parade, which has humble beginnings. The first parade started when Monroe residents with Irish heritage walked the Square with an Irish flag to celebrate. Over the years it has continued to grow and been the culminating event for Irish Week.

Irish week includes the Celtic Pub Crawl the week before, as well as the YMCA’s “Run Before You Crawl” 5k and 10k. The Monroe Public Library will be hosting a free craft session immediately before the parade, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., for families to make leprechaun hats to wear for the parade. Additionally, Main Street will be holding its monthly indoor farmers market at the Masonic Temple on the north side of the Square.

Anyone interested in participating in the parade should contact Veronica Bruce at 608-329-4204.

Additional questions may be directed to Jordan Nordby at 608-328-4023.