St. Patrick's Day Parade To Return To Hermosa Beach

HERMOSA BEACH, CA – The 25th annual Hermosa Beach Saint Patrick’s Day Parade will be on Saturday, March 16 beginning at 11 a.m. The popular tradition draws more than 15,000 spectators and participants who come to enjoy the family event in downtown Hermosa Beach, the press release said.

Local businesses, civic organizations and school marching bands will take part in the seven-block parade, where the Irish theme will be seen throughout. Bagpipers, the LAPD Emerald Society, green-clad locals on creative floats and custom-made bicycles, numerous Irish dancers, Storm Troopers, Brazilian dancers and marching bands will participate in the festivities, according to the press release.

Plus, for the first time, the Budweiser Clydesdale Horses will be in the parade thanks to sponsor and grand marshal AB inBEV. Disney, another sponsor, will feature a Dumbo-themed float on the parade route to celebrate the opening of their live-action "Dumbo" movie remake.

Both the Clydesdale Horses and Dumbo will be available for pictures on the pier from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the conclusion of the parade, according to the press release. Other sponsors include Disney, SCE, Athens Services, California Water Service, Kiwanis Club of Hermosa Beach, Skechers, Kinecta, MyCharge and E3 Vehicles.

Kinecta’s free Ice Cream Truck will also be making an appearance – for every Kinecta member who visits the truck, the credit union will donate $1 to Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, the press release said. The truck will be parked in Kinecta’s parking lot from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., located at the corner of Pier Avenue and Valley Drive.

Radio broadcaster Mark Willard will also be coming to this year's parade, with plenty of experience working with ESPN, Fox Sports and The Sporting News. Mark will be announcing the parade at the step-off location. Plus, George Barks and Adrienne Slaughter – the Hermosa Beach Man and Woman of the Year – will be riding down the route, the press release said.

The parade begins at the staging area near City Hall on Valley Drive, makes a left onto Pier Avenue and ends at the corner of Hermosa Avenue and 10th Street. Beginning at 6 a.m., street closures will be in effect on Valley Drive between Pier Avenue and Eighth Street. Also, beginning at 8 a.m., Pier Avenue between Valley Drive and Hermosa Avenue as well as Hermosa Avenue between Pier Avenue and Eighth Street will be closed. The streets will reopen approximately at 3 p.m.