ST. PATRICK’S DAY

The Allentown St. Patrick’s Parade Committee, Inc. recently announced the schedule of events surrounding the 63rd Allentown St. Patrick’s Parade presented by Giant Food Stores.

The parade will be held March 22 departing from the Allentown Fairgrounds 1:30 p.m.

The parade committee will host a food drive to benefit Second Harvest Food Bank of the Lehigh Valley. The food drive kicks off at the annual fundraiser event being held Feb. 16 at Christopher’s at the Columbian Home. Donations will also be taken at the Coronation Celebration March 20 and the Irish Cultural Community Day being held March 21 respectively at Allentown Fairgrounds. The parade group is asking all spectators of the parade to bring a nonperishable food item to donate.

Christopher’s at the Columbian Home, 1519 Greenleaf St., will host the 18th annual fundraising event 3 to 6 p.m. Feb. 16. The event is open to the public.

The event will include music by DJ John Harvey and raffles. The 2020 King and Queen, Barri and Lisa Arnold, will be introduced and the winners of the 2020 parade poster contest will be announced. All guests are asked to bring a nonperishable food item to benefit the Second Harvest Food Bank of the Lehigh Valley.

There is a cost for tickets.

Tickets include select beers (sponsored by Banko Beverages) and soda with admission as well as door prizes. Tickets can be purchased at the website, www.allentownstpatricksparade.com.

The Parade Pub Crawl will take place March 14 throughout the West End of Allentown.

The pub crawl begins promptly 5 p.m.

Proceeds from the pub crawl benefit the Allentown St. Patrick’s Parade to pay for marching units and bands.

The eight sponsoring pubs are: Jack Callaghan’s Ale House, Tavern on Liberty Street, The Roost of Allentown, Volpe’s Sports Bar, Shanty on 19th, Fairgrounds Hotel, Sleepy Cat Urban Winery and Greg’s West End Saloon.

A donation to benefit the Allentown St. Patrick’s Parade will include a commemorative T-shirt.

On March 17 the flag of the Republic of Ireland will be raised at City Hall Plaza, Allentown 11:45 a.m.

The flag raising event is to commemorate the contributions of those of Irish heritage who helped to form and grow Allentown and the greater Allentown area.

The program will feature a pipe salute by Mackay Pipe Band and brief remarks by John A. Chaya, co-president of the Allentown St. Patrick’s Parade Committee, Inc. and Raymond O’Connell, mayor of the City of Allentown. Allentown City Hall is located at 435 Hamilton St.

For more information or to participate in the 2020 Allentown St. Patrick’s Parade, go to www.allentownstpatricksparade.com.