It's Good to Have More than Two Choices

With apologies to Kermit the Frog who once lamented "It's Not Easy Being Green," it actually kinda is to do this time of year most especially here in Norwich where the Sixth Annual Saint Patrick's Day Parade is very nearly upon us.

Weather permitting (something that should be in all capital letters especially this time of year), the Norwich Saint Patrick's Day Parade steps off at one on Sunday afternoon led by Jeff Blayman, owner of Greeneville's Ideal Skate Shop, as the Grand Marshal starting from Ferry Street, meandering around most of the downtown area to include Franklin Square, Franklin, Willow, and Chestnut Streets, a bit of lower Broadway and then a left just beyond the Wauregan Hotel back onto Main Street, before finishing up at City Landing.

I always bring a compass even though I never get lost because people tell me where to go but I mention the march route to emphasize that no matter from where you choose to enjoy the parade, you're guaranteed an eyeful of marchers and an earful of music.

To my memory, we've had very kind weather more often than not and I know you'll join me in wishing for more of the same for Sunday. With special thanks to volunteers like Norwich Events Organization and Global City Norwich, our city has a growing number of celebrations of ourselves in downtown, with each event better than the one previously.

Each year the Saint Patrick’s Day Parade adds marchers, vendors, and spectators, contributing to cosa a chur ar an tsráid (Gaelic for ‘putting feet on the street’) in Chelsea, but don’t take my word for it, come downtown and see for yourself.

And while you’re enjoying the parade, look both left and right and you may be more than a little surprised at the steady pace of development across the heart of downtown, which helps put a lie to that tired old refrain of “there’s never anything to do in Norwich,” since, well, you are doing something.  

With my last name, of course I’ll be there, looking forward to seeing again someone I know only as “Paddy O’ Furniture,” a fine figure of a man in full costume who attends every year as do many from beyond Norwich who come for the parade and then stay for the family-oriented crafts festival, the live music as well as the authentic food and beverages (both adult and unadulterated).      

If you want to march, you’ll be in some fine company. Traditionally, the parade features all/some/part of our Norwich City Council and the Mayor, members of the Norwich Police Department and various area fire departments, marching bands, local service organizations and basically anyone who felt like stepping out and stepping off.

When Irish Eyes are Smiling, let’s hope they brighten and warm up Sunday afternoon enough to allow both the wearing of the green and the marching of the feet. And, yes, it’s technically early, but right on time for Sunday: Beannachtam na Feile Padraig "Happy St. Patrick's Day!"

-bill kenny