Get ready for a sea of green-clad revelers – Shanghai’s biggest St. Patrick’s Day parade is back for round four. This family-friendly event packs the street with Celtic tigers, marching bands (including the SCIS Hongqiao Marching Band), sporting groups, traditional Irish dancing and more. Be on the lookout for Haibao, two dragons, two giant Irish hounds, clowns and adorable children. The parade will culminate in a street carnival complete with beef pies and of course, the requisite beer, courtesy of Murphy’s Irish Stout.

The parade is part of Ireland Week, which kicks off tonight with a Celtic music and dance extravaganza, followed by tomorrow morning’s parade and then charity ball in the evening. Spend the rest of the week ensconced in the Irish pub of your choice, where drinks specials, Irish food promotions, live music and singing and plenty of craic await.

We have a quick chat with Irish community group’s Le Cheile president, Eoin Murphy, about his favorite St. Patrick’s Day activity – the parade.

CW: Best St. Patrick’s Day you’ve ever had?

EM: Last year in Shanghai. My lasting memory was of Chinese people and Irish people doing Irish dance in the middle of Yandang Lu. My kids, ages six and nine, have never actually lived in Ireland so this is a really great opportunity to connect with their national identity.

CW: What do you think makes St. Patrick’s Day in Shanghai so special?

EM: The diversity here. We welcome all nationalities and we will have a significant number of consulates represented to really reflect the fact that there are Irish people all over the world and we like to be a part of the places we live in. whether you’re Chinese, American, Irish, everyone’s welcome to come along and enjoy St. Patrick’s Day.

CW: Two major parade concerns are viewing spots and bathrooms. Can you allay our fears regarding both?

EM: This year we’ll have a really, really good stage, so anywhere on Yandang Lu will be a good spot. It’s always very difficult to predict how many people will be coming, so the earlier, the better. There are bathrooms on the 2nd floor of Jinyan Building at 29 Yandang Lu and in a lane near 49 Yandang Lu.

St. Patrick’s Day Parade
Saturday, March 13th, 10:30am
Yandang Lu near Nanchang Lu

Anyone can march in the parade; those wishing to join must be at Fuxing Park no later than 10:15am.