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On March 16, the area around Sixth Avenue and Laurel Street in Downtown will be sporting the green when the Irish Congress of Southern California puts on its annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade. The theme this year is “We Are One” — Irish and American. The parade steps off at Sixth Avenue and Juniper Street at 11 a.m. and proceeds up Fifth Avenue across Upas Street and comes back down Sixth to Laurel. It will feature more than 130 entries including marching bands, Irish step dancers, Irish bands, and some of the finest local firefighters and local law enforcement.

Dick Murphy is the executive grand marshal and San Diego Fire Chief Robert Osby is the grand marshal. The parade also will feature Tom Page and Barbara McCarty, Irish man and woman of the year, as well as other San Diegans noted for their civic contributions.

The free Irish festival in the park will begin at 1 p.m. at Sixth and Laurel and will feature food booths, beer service, children’s rides, craft booths, parade T-shirts, souvenir programs, and Irish music, dancing and entertainment. Some of the acts featured are Sean McVickers, Joe Byrne and Heelstone Celtic Band. The festival will run until 6 p.m.

— Maria L. Kirkpatrick