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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
THE 41ST ANNUAL ST. PATRICK'S DAY PARADE,
32ND ANNUAL MICHELOB ULTRA ST. PATRICK'S DAY RUN
AND THE IRISH VILLAGE
WILL TAKE PLACE SATURDAY, MARCH 13
The Annual St. Patrick's Day Parade in St. Louis will take place on Saturday, March 13. Leading the 41st annual parade will be parade founder and St. Louis Irish Consul Joseph McGlynn, Jr.; Irish Dignitary Labhras O' Murcho (Gaelic), a senator in the Irish Government and the international president of Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann, a world wide organization that preserves and promotes Irish traditional music, song and dance; Archbishop Robert Carlson, Archbishop of St. Louis; Parade Committee Chairperson Michael Gentry; Mayor Francis Slay; County Executive Charlie Dooley; and other dignitaries.
The parade steps off at noon from 18th and Market Streets and proceeds east on Market to Broadway and then south on Broadway where it will disband at the site of the proposed Ball Park Village. Market Street will be closed at 7:30 a.m. from Compton to Broadway. Parade units will stage starting at 7:30 a.m. from Compton to 18th Street.
The parade, also known as St. Louis' "Rite of Spring," will feature over 120 units, including bands, large helium-filled balloons, and over 5,000 marchers.
A Marine color guard from the 3rd Battalion, 24th Marine Regiment based in St. Louis will lead the parade. In the past with good weather, more than 350,000 spectators have gathered along Market Street to watch the elaborate floats, marching bands, marching units, dance groups, animal units, novelty units, and motorized units.
The children's favorites – giant cartoon character helium-filled balloons – will be featured in the parade. Each balloon will have its own team of handlers, usually employees of the corporate sponsor of the balloon in question.
McGlynn noted the support the run has received over the years from Anheuser-Busch, "From the very first run 32 years ago, Anheuser-Busch was there supporting our efforts." The 32nd Annual Michelob ULTRA St. Patrick's Day Parade Run will precede the parade. The St. Patrick's Day Parade Run is St. Louis' largest locally organized run. This year it covers a new five-mile course which will begin and conclude on Broadway just south of the Hilton St. Louis at the Ballpark hotel (Broadway between Walnut and Clark Streets).
Nearly 10,000 runners, walkers and wheelchair racers of all ages participated in the 2009 St. Patrick's Day Run. There are 13 different age categories for both male and female competitive runners, ranging in age from under14 to 70-plus years. Prizes will be awarded in age categories for both men and women, including "14 and under" and "70 and over."
Runners may register online, by mail, or in person. For the first time ALL runners (registering by March 11) will be issued timing chips. The chips are disposable and do not need to be returned. Wearing the chip is the choice of the runner, but only those top finishers with chip recorded times will be eligible for prizes. We have eliminated the distinction of "competitive" and "non-competitive" categories. Past top finishers will be issued special bib numbers so they can start closer to the front of the pack.
The fastest and least expensive way to register is online at www.StPatsRun.com. The cost is $19 plus online fee through March 7. From March 8-11, the cost is $22. Online registration ends at 11:59 p.m on Thursday, March 11.
Runners can also enter in person at any of our four in-person registration spots: Toolen's Running Start in Shiloh, IL; Big River Running's West St. County and South City locations from Saturday, March 6 through Friday, March 12 and at Rio Syrup Company, Inc., from March 8-12 for $21. Consult www.StPatsRun.com for addresses and hours of operation. Note that timing chips will be distributed along with bib numbers and T-shirts (while available) only through Thursday, March 11.
No chips will be given to those registering after March 11. Mail registration forms should be mailed to St. Pat's Run, c/o Data Dash, 3928 Delor, St. Louis, MO 63116 by March 5 along with a self-addressed stamped envelope and a check for $22 per runner. Runners can also register on the day of the run starting at 7:30 a.m. just south of the Start Line on Broadway, between Walnut & Clark Streets for $25 cash. No timing chips will be distributed to Day-of registrants.
For more information visit www.StPatsRun.com or call: (314) 231-2598.
 Immediately south of the finish line on Broadway, runners can enjoy the Michelob ULTRA Runners Village on the south side of the Hilton St. Louis at the Ballpark hotel where they will receive water, energy drink, and a sample of Michelob ULTRA for all registered finishers 21-years or older. The runners can then walk through the hotel to reach the Hilton St. Louis at the Ballpark Irish Village in Kiener Plaza. The Hilton St. Louis at the Ballpark is the official hotel of the St. Patrick's Day Run and Parade. For information on special St. Patrick's Day Parade and Run room packages, visit the hotel's "Hotel Specials" page of its website or call 314-421-1776.
 The Hilton St. Louis at the Ballpark Irish Village at Kiener Plaza opens at 9:00 a.m. on Parade Day and closes at 6 p.m. The Irish Village will feature a Main Stage with Irish and popular music. At 1:30 p.m. the high-energy Celtic/Folk band Roundstone Buskers will play, followed at 3:30 p.m. by Elevation which brings the authentic sights and sounds of U2 to the Irish Village. At 4:30 p.m. the County/Rock band Rough Ryders will take stage and round out the afternoon's entertainment finishing at 6:30 p.m.
Food and beverage booths will be provided by the Hilton St. Louis at the Ballpark, the Seven Gables Inn, and Molly Darcy's Irish Pub. A-B InBev and Guinness beverages will be featured.
There also will be Irish novelties, free inflatable bounce rides for children and other family activities, including free face painting, jugglers, balloon sculptures, and St. Louis sports team mascots such as Louie, the Blues mascot.
The St. Patrick's Day Parade and the Michelob Ultra St. Patrick's Day Parade Run celebration kicks off Friday night, March 12 at the Hilton St. Louis at the Ballpark, 1 South Broadway, with cocktails and dinner. The Sh-Boom band will provide the entertainment. For further information, call 314-241-PATS or visit our website at www.irishparade.org.
For more information on the parade and attendant activities, call (314) 241-PATS or contact the Parade's and Run's Internet web site at www.irishparade.org. For run information, go to www.StPatsRun.com.
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