Hal's St. Paddy's Parade and Festival: 5 things you need to know about this year's event

Lici Beveridge, Mississippi Clarion Ledger
·2 min read

The 37th annual Hal's St. Paddy’s Parade and Festival will roll Saturday in Jackson, returning after two years.

One of the capital city's leading events, the parade and festival not only offers a fun time for all but raises money and awareness for a local cause.

Proceeds from the annual event benefit Children’s of Mississippi, the state's only pediatric hospital and research center.

Wannabes Mary Etta Carner, left, of Clinton and Emily Routh of Jackson, with the Nugget League, march in Hal's St. Paddy's Day Parade in Jackson, Saturday, March 23, 2019.
Wannabes Mary Etta Carner, left, of Clinton and Emily Routh of Jackson, with the Nugget League, march in Hal's St. Paddy's Day Parade in Jackson, Saturday, March 23, 2019.

The parade is named for Hal White, brother of organizer Malcolm White, who owns Hal and Mal's restaurant. Hal White died in 2013.

To help you make the most of the parade and festival, here are five things you need to know:

1. Unique history. Since the early '80s, Hal's St. Paddy's Parade offered the city something "wacky, funny and extremely original," according to the parade history. The first parade featured Malcolm White and friends dressed as characters from Tennessee Williams plays.

"The parade gives people an opportunity to express themselves in ways they can’t otherwise, and over the years, folks have taken advantage of it in outlandish, creative and wonderful ways."

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2. Hot music lineup. This year's after show will feature the Molly Ringwalds, Mustache the Band, Frazierband and Southern Komfort Brass Band. Additional music will be provided by The Collective, featuring DJs Cadillac, Uri and Tam.

Gates open at 1 p.m. Music begins at 3 p.m. on Commerce Street in front of Hal and Mal's. Attendees must be 18 or older. No coolers or pets allowed. Advance tickets are $20 plus fees, available at halsstpaddysparade.com/the-official-afterparty.

Trace Alston, left, of the Rude Men Krewe speaks to members of the media during a press conference at Hal & Mal's restaurant in downtown Jackson on Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2019, announcing the Hal's St. Paddy's Parade and Festival for 2020, which was canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic. Alston is the 2022 parade grand marshal.
Trace Alston, left, of the Rude Men Krewe speaks to members of the media during a press conference at Hal & Mal's restaurant in downtown Jackson on Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2019, announcing the Hal's St. Paddy's Parade and Festival for 2020, which was canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic. Alston is the 2022 parade grand marshal.

3. Leader of the pack. The grand marshal for the parade is Jacksonian Alexander “Trace” Armstrong Alston III, a longtime parade member with the marching Rude Men (and Women) Krewe.

4. It's been a while. “Mississippi’s Green Mardi Gras” is making its comeback after a two-year hiatus. The 2022 event, themed “Go Big and Come Home,” is a nod to Jackson's bicentennial and its theme of "Homecoming."

“After these last two years, we wanted to pick a theme that represents both our community getting to come together again, as well as Jackson’s celebration of its bicentennial,” Malcolm White said.

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5. Family-friendly activities. Before the official parade, there will be a parade for pets at 10 a.m.and a children's parade at 11 a.m., both beginning outside the Mississippi Museum of Art. Other family-oriented rides, games and festivities will take place beginning at 9 a.m. on the corner of West and Pascagoula streets and on the lawn at Thalia Mara Hall.

There is a $5 fee to register a pet for the pet parade, with proceeds benefitting the Mississippi Animal Rescue League.

The 2022 Hal's St. Paddy's Parade route will follow a traditional path, starting at State and Court streets to East Capitol Street to West Street and returning on Court Street to State Street. The parade will roll at 1 p.m. Saturday, March 26, 2022.
The 2022 Hal's St. Paddy's Parade route will follow a traditional path, starting at State and Court streets to East Capitol Street to West Street and returning on Court Street to State Street. The parade will roll at 1 p.m. Saturday, March 26, 2022.

Do you have a story to share? Contact Lici Beveridge at lbeveridge@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @licibev or Facebook at facebook.com/licibeveridge.

This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Hal's St. Paddy's Parade, Festival 2022 in Jackson, MS: Things to know