Amid news of coronavirus-related cancellations and postponements across the country, the 31st annual Kelly’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade is still on this Sunday, March 15 starting at 1 p.m.
Organizers are still expecting about 100 parade participants and hundreds of spectators for the annual parade, one of the largest in North Carolina.
The parade route runs from Bladen Street at milepost 11.5 in Nags Head north to Driftwood Street on Beach Road.
The 2020 parade grand marshals are the Coastal Humane Society and “Pigman” Bill Shaver, who both work hard to benefit the region’s pets. Parade participants are asked to keep animals in mind when planning this year’s entries.
The Coastal Humane Society is a well-known, all-volunteer community organization offering financial support for vaccinations, spaying and neutering, and emergency medical assistance. They also support two pet food banks and provide emergency pet food and supplies after hurricanes.
The society has helped over 8,600 OBX families since 1997.
This past year, they undertook a special project and donated 65 state-of-the-art pet resuscitation kits to Dare County, Corolla, Corova and Ocracoke fire departments.
An esteemed panel of judges will score entrants on the use of the parade theme in the following categories: Best Overall, Best Float, Best Unit and Best Band/Music group. Prizes will be awarded following the parade.
The annual St. Patrick’s Day parade, created by Kelly’s Restaurant owner Mike Kelly, began as a way to break up the winter doldrums and get the community ready for the summer season. Though Kelly’s restaurant has since closed, Mike Kelly has continued the tradition, with the parade now including more than 100 entrants and drawing up to 8,000 attendees.
This year will be the Coastal Humane Society’s 24th Annual WalkaThon in Kelly’s St. Patrick Day Parade, a major fundraiser for the society.
“The Coastal Humane Society is always reaching out to help anytime owners and caretakers are facing financial difficulties with caring for their pets,” Mike Kelly said. “They do a tremendous job on this beach. They’re all volunteers; they work entirely on community donations. Twenty-four years is a long time and we’re happy to spotlight their work in this year’s parade.”
If your dog’s dream is to help others, then you belong in this year’s WalkaThon. Call 252-261-7417 to sign up or contact the society through Facebook or www.obxcoastalhumanesociety.org.
This story originally appeared on OBXToday.com. Read More local stories here.
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