It may only be March 5, but the bagpipers were already out playing at New Haven City Hall this morning.
The musical numbers were part of an announcement by this year's St. Patrick's Day Parade committee that there's a change in the parade route and part of the route will be moved over a block.
The move needed to be made because of construction on Chapel Street, outside the former St. Raphael's building that's now part of Yale-New Haven Hospital.
“Historically, the route went from the Boulevard on Chapel Street, all the way down. The organizers made a great map here to see. Instead, we're just moving it one block over to Edgewood Avenue,” said New Haven Police Lt. Julie Johnson.
The parade will now step off at Edgewood and Sherman Avenues, then use Howe Street to cross back over to Chapel and continue its regular route. Parade organizers want to make sure spectators know about the changes.
“People have been coming to this parade for 58 years and some people have been going to the same spot every year," said Tim Gallogly, chair of this year’s parade. "There's actually generations of people who pick the same spot, multiple generations from little kids to the elderly. Some of those spots aren't there anymore."
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Parade organizers say it's a small change to ensure people's safety, but the parade this year will be just as festive as in years past.
“I'm very excited about the parade, the tradition of marching down the street, leading the parade as it's been down the street for 58 years,” said 2014 Parade Grand Marshal Kelly Canning Ruickoldt.
For more information on the parade route, visit www.stpatricksdayparade.org.
