We love this time of year because it means we’re in the middle of what we like to call “parade season” in Downtown Huntsville.
What is “parade season”?
It’s actually pretty simple: beginning in November with the Veterans Day Parade (the second largest in the country, by the way), Downtown Huntsville hosts what is typically five straight months of parades.
December brings the nighttime Christmas Parade, followed by the inspiring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Parade in January. Then in February and March, the Mardi Gras Parade and St. Patrick’s Day Parade, two of the most festive parades in the area, roll into the Rocket City Center.
While shorter than the others, the Downtown Huntsville Mardi Gras Parade still brings the party. Local groups create quirky krewes and floats with plenty of beads to be shared. This year’s route will run down Green Street to Gates Avenue, follow Southside and Eastside Courthouse Square, and return on Washington Street and Jefferson Street to end at The Furniture Factory. And, while we love the beads, please note that they may be only thrown and received in designated areas with metal barricades. Never fear though, as many Downtown establishments feature parade after-parties where the beads flow as freely as the fun.
Wrapping up Downtown Parade Season is the long-standing Huntsville St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Officially known as the Ellen McAnnely Memorial St. Patrick’s Day Parade, it brings throngs of green-clad participants to the Rocket City Center. The route includes the traditional procession down Jefferson Street, where the parade is blessed by Saint Mary of the Visitation Church. Thousands of parade participants and onlookers prepare for a day (and night) filled with green memories and fun.
As you can hopefully see, November through March is an amazing time to experience a parade of almost every kind right here in Downtown Huntsville!