Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade marches through Newport Saturday

NEWPORT, R.I. (WLNE) — The Newport St. Patrick’s Day Parade starts at 11 a.m. right outside city hall where the famous green stripe starts and runs through the parade route that stretches almost across the entire city.

It’s Saint Patrick’s Day weekend and that means an annual tradition in Newport is back.

“Over 1,000 participants come down and march in the parade multiple divisions from the classic pipe and drum core to the naval band that’s gonna be playing,” said Newport Mayor Xaykham Khamsyvoravong.

Saturday morning thousands will gather on Broadway as the 68th annual Newport St. Patrick’s Day Parade starts off outside city hall.

“It also is an unofficial kickoff for spring in the community,” said Khamsyvoravong.

After a couple of rainy and cold St. Patrick’s Day celebrations, Saturday’s parade has the makings to be a good one.

“The weather looks perfect tomorrow, it’s the first great day we’ve had in a number of years and so the excitement level in the community is exceptionally high,” said Khamsyvoravong.

Along with St. Patrick’s Day can naturally come consumption of a few pints of Guinness, which is why Mayor Khamsyvoravong is encouraging everyone to avoid drinking and driving on parade day.

“We want to ensure that one of the things Newport is known for is also having one of the safest St. Patrick’s Day celebrations in the community,” said Khamsyvoravong.

Which is why the mayor says they have the Ride the Wave for safe rides initiative implemented for Saturday, to encourage parade goers from bringing their cars downtown, both to avoid parking backups as well as avoiding any drunk driving.

“If you see a coaster with a QR code you can scan it and get a free safe Uber ride home from the parade,” said Khamsyvoravong.

Newport will have several parking bans in effect throughout Saturday.

The bans will be on Broadway from Cranston Avenue to Washington Square at Thames Street, Lower Thames Street from America’s Cup Avenue to Morton Avenue, Narragansett Ave between Spring Street and Bellevue Ave, as well as both sides of America’s Cup Avenue at the Gateway Center.

There will also be public parking available at the Gateway Center on America’s Cup Ave.

And once the parade ends in the historic 5th Ward Irish neighborhood, thousands of people will flood the area and can visit the Irish museum or enjoy some Irish delicacies.

“I’m excited to get to the end of that parade route and enjoy some Irish hospitality,” said Khamsyvoravong.