LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The Louisville St. Patrick’s parade returned Saturday, March 8.

The Ancient Order of Hibernians hosted the Irish celebration for its 52nd consecutive year.

What You Need To Know

  •  The St. Patrick's Parade stepped off in Louisville on March 8 at 3 p.m.

  • The Ancient Order of Hibernians hosted the Irish celebration for its 52nd consecutive year 

  • The AOH said 110 units marched down Bardstown Road

  • Over 50,000 spectators were expected, according to the AOH

It wouldn’t be the St. Patrick’s parade without the bagpipes

“We’ll march down Bardstown Road and play tunes as we go,” said Anne Marie deZeeuw, co-pipe sergeant.

The Louisville Pipe band was one group leading this year’s parade. deZeeuw has been marching for years and picked up the bagpipes a little over four decades ago.

“My husband and I had a holiday in Scotland, picked up a practice chanter as our souvenir, and coincidentally saw an advertisement for the pipe band that they were offering instruction. We said, let’s give it a go,” she said.

deZeeuw and her husband have been with the band ever since. The band has 13 bagpipers and roughly five drummers in the 52nd annual St. Patrick’s Parade.

“I’ve been with the band for a couple of years, and this is the most we’ve had out for this parade,” said Graeme Smith, pipe major with the Louisville Pipe Band.

There are 110 units in the parade and the Ancient Order of the Hibernians said it expected more than 50,000 people to be watching.

“These are all your best friends you never met, because on St. Patrick’s, everybody’s a friend. Just have a good time. Ancient order of Hibernians throws the parade. We love doing it to make everybody happy,” said John O’Dwyer, parade coordinator with the Ancient Order of the Hibernians.

It’s all about coming together, or as O’Dwyer called it, the “people’s parade”.

“Our band mates are lovely people to work with. We enjoy the social aspect of being in the band as well,” deZeeuw said.

The planning for next year’s parade starts in a few weeks.

O’Dwyer said it’s a charity event and all the money raised will be given back to the community.