As Saint Patrick's Day Weekend approaches, preparations for a variety of downtown events are in full swing.
It's a busy time, but a fun time of year too, everyone seems to be in a jolly mood around Saint Patrick's Day,"" said Cliff McDonald, operator of Brocach Irish Pub on 7 W. Main St.
McDonald said Brocach will be opening early Sunday and Monday with a special menu of Irish specialties including corned beef and cabbage. The pub is also a co-chair of the Saint Patrick's Day parade on Sunday, which begins at 1:30 p.m. on Capitol Square.
The parade, now in its 11th year, will feature Irish music by the Madison Pipes and Drums and an Evansville band, Rising Gale. Floats will also travel on the parade route, including one featuring the McCarthy family, the Shamrock Club of Wisconsin's Irish Family of the Year.
""This is really a community, grassroots type of event,"" Cheryl Sullivan, an organizer on the parade committee said.
Sullivan said she expects attendance to be in the thousands if the weather is nice. Proceeds from the parade will go to the University of Wisconsin Comprehensive Cancer Center.
""We gave $5,000 to the Cancer Center in November from last year's parade. We really aim to equal or increase the amount we give to the Cancer Center,"" Sullivan said.
Another charity event, the Shamrock Shuffle Run/Walk, will precede the parade. Proceeds from the five- or 10-kilometer run or two-mile walk will go to the Boys and Girls Club of Dane County.
Megan Sisson, one of the race's founders, said the event started five years ago because of high demand for more community events on the Irish holiday.
""Saint Patrick's Day needed some more events in Madison. People would go out of town to do a Saint Patrick's Day run,"" Sisson said.
She said she expects 2,000 people to participate in the run.
After the Shamrock Shuffle is the Irish Flag Ceremony at 12 p.m. on the Capitol Rotunda. The flag ceremony is an annual tradition sponsored by the Dane County Shamrock Club.
""The Zor Shrine Drum and Pipe Corp will play, the Cashel Dennehy Dancers will do a few numbers,"" Jim Bennett, president of the Shamrock Club, said.
""We'll have the unfurling of the Irish flag, and while the flag is being unfurled the Solider Song will being played, which is the Irish national anthem.
