(Related video above: Stan Smith named grand marshal)
HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. (WSAV) – Hilton Head Island is gearing up for its 38th annual St. Patrick’s Day parade.
It’s said to be the oldest St. Patrick’s Day parade in the state.
The event kicks off at 3 p.m. Sunday on Pope Avenue featuring over 100 entries. That includes 11 bands, a Coast Guard helicopter flyover, the Oscar Meyer Wienermobile and the largest boiled peanut.
Tennis champion Stan Smith has been selected as this year’s parade grand marshal.
If you can’t make it in person, WSAV, a proud sponsor, will be broadcasting the parade live on WSAV-CW and streaming online.
But the fun begins on Hilton Head even before parade day.
Irish Concert
Hilton Head is hosting its second annual Irish Concert in Celebration Park on Saturday.
Featuring The Fenian Sons and the Boston Police Gaelic Column Pipes and Drums, the concert will take place from 4 to 7 p.m.
It’s free and open to the public.
St. Patrick’s Day parade
There are a few things to know, as far as traffic is concerned.
The sheriff’s office will begin rerouting the traffic on Pope Avenue at approximately 2 p.m.
From 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., the following areas will be closed to traffic or re-routed:
- Parade Route – No vehicles will be allowed to travel on the eastbound lanes of Pope Avenue. Traffic is rerouted.
- Sea Pines Circle – both lanes of traffic onto Pope Avenue will be closed to thru traffic.
- College Center Drive and Office Way traffic will be rerouted to Office Park Road and will only be able to exit onto Greenwood Drive. Traffic will not be able to exit onto Pope Avenue.
- Access to Shipyard Gate on Pope Avenue is closed. No vehicles will enter the route off of Cordillo Parkway.
- Traffic from Lagoon Road to Pope Avenue will only be able to make a right-hand turn.
- Vehicles that must travel from New Orleans Road to Coligny Circle will be able to do so; however, all thru traffic will be rerouted to the westbound lanes of Pope Avenue only. All eastbound lanes are closed to the parade.
The parade steps off from the Beach Parking Lot onto Pope Avenue across from Lagoon Road. It then travels along Pope Avenue before turning left onto Office Park Road, ending at Park Plaza.
No parking is available near the parade stage area at the Beach Parking Lot. Only vehicles participating in the parade are allowed to enter.
For those concerned about parking, the Breeze Trolley is offering one-way trips from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on parade day, picking up at USCB Hilton Head and dropping off near Lowcountry Celebration Park. No other stops will be made.
Keep in mind, no alcoholic beverages and/or open containers are allowed on the parade route. They’re only allowed on properties that have been granted permits.
