By Alexandra Pecci
Correspondent

Extend your Saint Patrick’s Day celebration with the Manchester Street Patrick’s Day Parade. The annual event is being held, rain or shine, this Sunday, with plenty of Irish cheer, music, and fun for everyone in the family.

“It’s just a great family-oriented parade, with a lot of different things we think keeps the kids young and old entertained,” parade president Dan O’Neil said.

The parade is also trying to give back to the community.

“The theme of the parade is Helping Hands Feeding the Hungry,” O’Neil said.

“It kind of ties into the Irish Famine,” he explained, referring to the blighted potato crop in Ireland in the mid-1800s, during which millions of people either died or emigrated from the country.

The parade is working with New Horizons, a Manchester-based soup kitchen, food pantry and shelter, to collect canned goods and nonperishables. Parade attendees can drop off their donations at three locations along the parade route: Elm Street and Brook Street; Elm Street and Bridge Street; and Elm Street at the review stand across from Pleasant Street.

The parade is also honoring Nancy Gati, a local teacher who, along with her students, has raised thousands of dollars for the hungry.

This year’s parade includes fire trucks, clowns, unicyclists, five different bagpipe bands, the Londonderry and Milford High school marching bands, Muchachos Drum & Bugle Corps, marching units, and police mounted units.

After the parade, there’s a fundraiser raffle at the Henry J. Sweeney American Legion Post, where the grand-prize winner receives either a trip for two to Ireland or $2,000 cash, and the second-prize winner receives a weekend at the Cape Cod Irish Village or $500 cash. Other prizes include gift certificates to local vendors. Tickets cost $25.

This year the parade is also hosting Jeff Throop, the president of the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Association, who is visiting Londonderry High School this week. The school has been invited to play again at the Tournament of Roses Parade next year.

“We’re very, very honored to have Jeff and his wife join us in the parade,” said O’Neil.

In addition to the parade, O’Neil encourages attendees to check out the food vendors and restaurants along the parade route, many of which are offering parade specials and events. For example, there will be Irish music from noon to 4 p.m. at the Black Brimmer American Bar and music from 2 to 8 p.m. at The Shaskeen.

O’Neil explained the parade isn’t just to honor the city’s Irish.

“It’s just kind of a celebration of all our ethnic upbringing,” he said.

If you go
What: Manchester Street Patrick’s Day Parade
When: Sunday, March 28, at noon
Where: Elm Street, from Salmon to Auburn Street
Cost: Free
Learn more: www.saintpatsnh.com