Cabbages and kings
As towering green floats load up prized produce to toss to eager crowds and locals add finishing touches to overflowing altars lined with candles, flowers, cakes and breads, New Orleanians will have plenty of unique opportunities to honor their Irish and Italian roots this spring. Longtime residents and visitors alike can celebrate St. Patrick’s Day Thursday (March 17) and St. Joseph’s Day Saturday (March 19) by enjoying parties and parades taking place throughout the metro area.
Check out some of our favorite annual festivities below.
Tracey’s St. Paddy’s Day Party
New Orleanians have plenty of unique opportunities to honor their Irish and Italian roots this spring.
Tracey's Original Irish Channel Bar (2604 Magazine St.) will throw its annual St. Patrick’s Day bash on Thursday (March 17) from 10 a.m. until 8 p.m. As guests enjoy a DJ and make memories in a photo booth, the bar will serve up its signature roast beef po’boys along with traditional plates of corned beef and cabbage.
On Thursday (March 17), Parasol’s (2533 Constance St.) will go green hosting an all-day block party running from 10 a.m. until 8 p.m. The popular neighborhood hub will offer music, food and drink specials like frozen Irish coffee.
St. Joseph’s Day Parade in the French Quarter
The Italian-American Marching Club’s annual St. Joseph’s Day celebration kicks off at the intersection of Convention Center Boulevard and Girod Street on Saturday (March 19) at 6 p.m. Parade-goers can catch 16 floats, get down to nine marching bands, and collect lucky fava beans from tuxedo-clad club members.
St. Bernard Irish Italian Islenos Parade
On Saturday, April 16, at noon, the St. Bernard Parish community will honor its unique cultural history from Ireland, Italy and the Canary Islands with a family-friendly parade. Rolling down West Judge Perez Drive, the parade will feature approximately 50 floats throwing fresh produce such as potatoes, carrots and limes to parade-goers.
