ASHLAND — St. Patrick’s Day is coming to Ashland one day sooner this year.
The religious and cultural holiday celebrating the patron saint of Ireland falls on March 17, a Sunday.
But the annual festivities in Ashland will happen on March 16, a day earlier. Ashland Mayor Matt Miller said it made sense because stores and restaurants will be open that Saturday.
The plan is to begin the annual walking parade — an informal, inclusive march down Main Street — from Foundation Plaza at 11 a.m.
From there, paraders will march east to Corner Park. At noon, city officials plan to dye Town Run a bright green. The creek will remain green, Miller said, all day March 16 and all day March 17.
“We’re going to have to pay some leprechauns overtime, I think, to do that,” Miller said with a laugh. He said he’s joking. “We have volunteers.”
He said the dye, which he’s said is made from vegetables, will need to be poured into the creek every 17 to 18 minutes in order to keep it green for that long.