27 Jan 2024 10:38 am
San Francisco to change St Patrick's Day parade for first time in 173 years (msn.com)
San Francisco's St Patrick's Day parade is set to be bigger and better than ever this year, with a new focus on bringing together the entire Bay Area community. Instead of just celebrating whiteness, the theme of the 2024 parade will be 'UniteSF', which will focus on inclusivity and new partnerships.The mission, according to organizers, is to share St Patrick’s Day with everyone and embrace all the unique cultural groups across San Francisco.
"We've always had people from all over walk in the parade itself but what we're trying to do this year is make the afterparty for everyone," said organizer James Quinn. "We want everyone in the city to come and enjoy it."
James is a member of the United Irish Societies of San Francisco, an umbrella group for Irish organizations in the area and the hosts of the city's annual St Patrick's Day parade. This is his first year heading up the parade committee, continuing on the work done by former organizer Kathleen Mannion.It's been a huge undertaking, but one that he and his team are passionate about. "We're trying to bring even more people on. Everyone is volunteering their time," said James.
Over 120 floats have already signed up and a number of acts are planned for the post-parade celebration at the Civic Center. "We reached out to people in Bayview, Japantown, Oakland," said James.
There goes the neighborhood.