From Syracuse to Utica, the streets are expected to be packed with people celebrating the luck of the Irish on Saturday. With St. Patrick's Day falling on a Saturday this year and the Syracuse men's basketball game scheduled for mid-day, plenty of people will be out and about.
Syracuse's 30th annual St. Patrick's Day Parade will be held at 12 noon on Saturday. This morning, officials painted the green stripe along South Salina Street downtown to mark the parade route. See the parade route here.
This afternoon, Syracuse will honor long-time Tipperary Hill residents Bob and Julie Rudd during the annual St. Patrick's Day Ceremony at Tipperary Hill Memorial Park, also known by many as Stone Throwers Park at Milton Avenue and Tompkins Street at the green-over-red traffic light.
The following streets will be closed for the St. Patrick's Parade on Saturday, March 17:
10:30 a.m.
Erie Blvd. West, between Clinton and Van Rensselaer Streets
Tracy Street, between Van Rensselaer and Plum Streets
Leavenworth Street, between Wilkinson Street and Erie Boulevard West
Plum Street, between Park Avenue and Erie Boulevard West
Wilkinson Street, between Barker and Plum Streets
Barker Street, between Wilkinson and Tracy Streets
West Street off-ramps at Erie Boulevard West
West Water Street, between Franklin and Clinton Streets
North and South Franklin Streets, between Washington and Genesee Streets
South Clinton Street, between Genesee to Washington Streets, and from Jefferson to Onondaga Streets
11:00 a.m.
South Salina Street, between Fayette and Willow Streets
West Washington Street, between Clinton and Salina Streets
James Street, between Salina and Warren Streets
Erie Boulevard East, between Warren and Salina Streets
East Washington Street, between Warren and Salina Streets
11:30 a.m.
East and West Fayette Street, between Warren and Clinton Streets
East and West Jefferson Street, between Warren and Clinton Streets
Harrison Street, between Warren and Salina Streets
West Onondaga Street, between Salina and West Adams Streets
South Salina Street, between Fayette and Adams Streets
Utica will also host a St. Patrick's Day parade on Saturday. Click here for the parade route.
A large portion of the downtown and West Utica areas will be closed to traffic during the event. Expect delays and detours, as well as a large amount of pedestrian traffic.
The following list of streets will be closed from about 8:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. in Utica:
•Genesee Street from Clinton Street and Oswego Street north to Columbia Street.
•Francis Street from Oswego Street north to Kirkland Street
•Mulberry Street from Sunset Ave. east to Francis Street
•Chestnut Street from Sunset Ave. east to Francis Street
•Noyes Street from Sunset Ave. east to Genesee Street
•Tracy Street from Sunset Ave. east to Genesee Street
•Plant Street from Lincoln Ave. east to State Street
•State Street from Kirkland Street south to the Roundabout
•Oneida Street from Hobart Street north to the Roundabout
•Hobart Street from Oneida Street west to Genesee Street
•Park Ave. from Eagle Street south to the Roundabout
•Eagle Street from Park Ave. west to Genesee Street
•Cottage Place from Genesee Street west to State Street\
•South Street from King Street west to Genesee Street
•Corneilia Street from Genesee Street west to Mandeville Street
•Court Street from Broadway east to Genesee Street
•Hopper Street from King Street west to Genesee Street
•Washington Street from Genesee Street west to the Radisson
•Bank Place from Genesee Street east to Union Street
•Blandina Street from Genesee Street east to Charlotte Street
•Devereux Street from Genesee Street east to Charlotte Street
•Columbia Street from Broadway east to Genesee Street
•Elizabeth Street from Charlotte Street west to Genesee Street
In order to accommodate all the attendees, the following streets will be closed off from about 6:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. for the Varick Street Celebration:
•Varick Street from Court Street north to Columbia Street
•Edward Street from Varick Street west to Columbia Street
•Hamilton Street from Varick Street west to Columbia Street
•Cooper Street from Varick Street east to Huntington Street
No back packs, bottles, cans or coolers will be allowed on Genesee Street during the parade or on Varick Street during the celebration following the parade. Any vehicles parked on Varick Street or Hamilton Street after 2:30 a.m. Saturday will be towed at the owner's expense.
Utica police will also be out in force conducting DWI checks.
In fact, statewide, police will be cracking down on drunk drivers. In Ithaca, police will also have a substantial number of patrols out on Saturday looking for drunk drivers. The extra patrols are paid for through the Tompkins County STOP-DWI Program.
Officers are reminding people to plan ahead themselves for St. Patrick's Day celebrations. Choose a designated driver, or plan to get a cab or bus wherever you are going. "Everyone is Irish on St. Patrick's Day, and it's a day of tradition and celebration," said Thomas Madison Jr., Executive Director of the Thruway Authority. "If your festivities will include alcohol, please act responsibly. Thousands of people needlessly lose their lives in motor vehicle crashes that involve impaired drivers. Before you go out to celebrate, please designate a sober driver."
Last year, during the seven-day "Sober Driver" initiative, State Police made 20 arrests for DWI on the Thruway. "Drunk driving all too often leads to death, disfigurement, disability or injury. It's simple. We say it again and again. Don't drink and drive," Madison said.
Are you planning to celebrate St. Patrick's Day? Will you attend one of the parades? Do you have any special St. Patrick's Day traditions? Leave your thoughts below.
