St. Patrick's Day is the one day a year to celebrate all things Irish, whether its wearing those fashionable Kelly green sweaters, enjoying green tinted ale, or eating some corned beef and cabbage

But there's an even better way to celebrate St. Patty's Day in the Lehigh Valley with Allentown's seventh annual West End St. Patrick's 5K.

The West End St. Patrick's 5k, will be held March 22.

The race precedes the 58th annual St. Patrick's Parade.

The 5K will begin promptly at 12:15 p.m. at the corner of Berks and Liberty streets and loop through a course bounded by 19th and 25th streets and Liberty and Tilghman

A course map is available on the website.

Come for the race in wackiest St. Patty's outfits and stay for the parade.

After the race, participants can enjoy the St. Patrick's Parade, one of Allentown's longest-standing traditions and the largest of its kind in the region.

Live music, marching bands, and other local groups and entertainers will start parading at 1:30 p.m. from 19th and Liberty streets, passing Memorial Hall at about 2 p.m. so runners might join hundreds of others in celebration.

Race amenities include post-race food and hydration, a commemorative T-shirt or imprinted beer mug, and indoor restrooms, bib and packet pick-up.

Awards will be given for the top three male and female open and masters (age 40 plus) finishers as well as the top three male and female finishers in the following age groups: 0-12, 13-19, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64 and 65 plus.

A "Pub Crawl Division" will recognize the top three male and female finishers who also take part in the March 14 St. Patrick's Pub Crawl through the West End.

Race proceeds will benefit the West End Alliance, a not-for-profit organization comprised of neighbors, merchants and stakeholders dedicated to Allentown's resurgent West End Theatre District.