St. Patrick's Day Parade in Cleveland to kick off

3/17/2013

CLEVELAND — The big St. Patrick's Day Parade in Cleveland kicks off later today and will have a contemporary social media feel.

Cleveland police will update the parade festivities with an official parade Twitter hashtag #CLEStPats. Police say the goal is to keep social media-savvy parade watchers up-to-date and safe.

The parade has nearly 150 marching units with Siberian huskies, shire horses and the Cleveland Indians mascot “Slider” joining traditional Irish troupers.

The grand marshal will be Irish-born Kevin McGinty, a founding member and current director of the Cleveland Irish Players organization. He also was a founding member of the Irish Archives.

Partyers with big, green plastic horns began gathering in downtown Cleveland around dawn.