Kelly’s St. Patrick’s Parade Postponed Until March 20, 2022
The official decision has been made to not hold the Kelly’s St. Patrick’s Parade in Nags Head this year, as parade founder Mike Kelly has announced plans to postpone the popular event until March of 2022.
Kelly sent a Jan. 15 email to Outer Banks Visitors Bureau Executive Director Lee Nettles, stating in part, “We reviewed the impact we felt Covid-19 would have on our 2021 St. Patrick’s celebration. Given the surge the virus has displayed, our parade committee has decided to postpone the March 14, 2021 ‘Wearing of the Green.’ We have chosen March 20 as our 2022 date for the 31st annual Kelly’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade,” as first reported by The Outer Banks Voice.
Kelly’s annual St. Patrick’s Parade is recognized as the largest St. Patrick’s Day celebration event in northeastern North Carolina, hosting an estimated 8,000-10,000 participants and attendees regularly each year at the parade, featuring regional entertainment, high school bands, politicians, businesses, theme floats, and an array of local talent and celebrities.
The parade has also symbolically become an unofficial kickoff to the spring tourist season on the Outer Banks.
The one-mile parade route runs along the beach road from Bladen St. (near milepost 11.5) north to Driftwood St. on South Virginia Dare Trail (NC 12).
After 30 consecutive years, held rain or shine, what would have been the 31st annual St. Patrick’s Parade was canceled in 2020 due to COVID-19 restrictions.
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