By Mark H. Stowers<\/p>\n
Royal Oak, MI, February 15, 2024 \u2013 The countdown begins \u2013 the Royal Oak Saint Patrick\u2019s Day Parade will be held on Saturday, March 16 beginning at noon in downtown Royal Oak. Just 30 days away and with the help of presenting sponsor, the Royal Oak Leprechauns summer collegiate baseball team, the parade is back in full force.<\/p>\n
Parade Chairman and retired Royal Oak Policeman, Al Carter, has marched in the parade and explained the parade began in 1999 but had to take a hiatus during the pandemic. In his first year as director, Carter and his committee have reached out to the community to not only bring back the parade but bring it back in style.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m a big traditionalist. This is a very old parade as it is a spinoff of the Detroit St. Patrick\u2019s Day Parade,\u201d Carter said. \u201cIt\u2019s a big task to run the parade. It\u2019s quite amazing and shocking how much goes into a parade.\u201d<\/p>\n
The sponsorship with the Royal Oak Leprechauns, a member of the 26-team Northwoods League and play at Memorial Park \u2013 #TheLuckyCorner at 13 Mile and Coolidge, has helped revitalize the parade.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019ve done a great job at that park and they are a non-profit and do a lot of fundraising as well,\u201d he said. \u201cThey have really helped us to get our organization going.\u201d<\/p>\n
Royal Oak Leprechaun General Manager Mark Sackett understands the importance of the parade.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe felt like this was a natural fit with our organization,\u201d Sackett explained. \u201cWe are partnering with local businesses and non-profits to promote the parade, St. Patrick\u2019s Day and the Royal Oak Leprechauns.\u201d<\/p>\n
Carter is focusing on building and assembling a team of volunteers to keep the parade on course for years to come.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have a lot of connections in Royal Oak and we had to find money to put it on. We have to pay for parking, the Police, the permit, the Department of Public Works setting everything up and it costs $11,000 on paper to make it happen. We started our own committee with zero budget and sponsorships and the Leprechauns came on board first and sponsored us,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n