The Wearin’ of the Green Parade has become one of the most anticipated annual traditions in Baton Rouge, turning the Hundred Oaks and Garden District areas into a sea of green every March. What began as a small neighborhood celebration has grown into what many locals proudly call the South’s go to St. Patrick’s Day parade.

The first parade rolled on March 15, 1986. It was a walking parade made up of antique cars, convertibles, twirlers, scouts, and close family and friends. The original route stretched from City Park Golf Course to just over the overpass at ZeeZee Gardens, an establishment that no longer stands. Founder Pat Shingleton began that first parade day with an Irish breakfast and started his tradition of walking with his family at the end of the route.

The idea had been forming for years. In 1982, while covering a downtown St. Patrick’s Day parade, Shingleton was told that the small gathering he was looking at was in fact the parade lineup. The moment stuck with him. A year later, while visiting his hometown of Pittsburgh with his wife Mabyn, he watched a St. Patrick’s Day parade line up along the Boulevard of the Allies and his vision for Baton Rouge became clear. Around that same time, the Shingletons finalized the purchase of ZeeZee Gardens Pub with friends Andy Ezell, Martin Schott, and Pat’s brother Kevin. ZeeZee Gardens would become closely associated with the parade and Irish Club meetings in the early years.

As the event grew, so did its organization. Krewe Captain Safety meetings were held at Our Lady of Mercy Parish Activity Center and the East Baton Rouge School Board Office. By 2015, safety information for krewes moved online. In 1999, The Parade Group, LLC was formed to manage year round activities. Today, the next generation helps oversee the parade, continuing a tradition that began with a small walking procession nearly four decades ago.

The parade route evolved in 1991 to begin in Hundred Oaks at South Acadian Thruway. In 1995, when officials nearly moved the parade out of the Hundred Oaks and Perkins area, supporters gathered more than 600 signatures to keep it in the neighborhood. That neighborhood loyalty remains a defining part of the parade’s identity.

Over the years, nationally recognized attractions have joined the lineup. The Oscar Mayer Wienermobile first rolled the route in 2009. The Planters NUTmobile has delighted crowds. In 2016, Mockler Beverage brought the world famous Budweiser Clydesdales to lead the parade. In 2015, Destinations Travel Magazine named Wearin’ of the Green one of the top St. Patrick’s Day parades to experience worldwide, placing Baton Rouge alongside cities such as New York City, Boston, Chicago, Dublin, London, and Sydney.

The parade has also welcomed high profile Grand Marshals. In 2022, Todd Graves led a record setting year and was joined on the float by his wife Gwen and rapper Nelly. The Southern University Human Jukebox and Texas Southern University’s Ocean of Soul added major musical energy. In 2024, basketball legend Seimone Augustus served as Grand Marshal, remembered for her sequined shamrock jacket and gracious presence. Looking ahead to 2026, meteorologist Jim Cantore will serve as Grand Marshal, a fitting choice for a parade that has seen everything from sunshine to sleet over the years.

Like many long running events, Wearin’ of the Green has faced challenges. The 2020 parade was postponed just two days before it was set to roll due to the pandemic, and both 2020 and 2021 passed without a parade. In 2025, for the first time in forty years, organizers moved the parade from Saturday to Sunday because of severe weather forecasts. With the help of local agencies and participating krewes, the parade successfully shifted a full day, reinforcing its commitment to safety.

Today, the parade begins at Hundred Oaks Boulevard and South Acadian Thruway and travels through the Garden District before ending at Perkins Road and Stanford Avenue. It steps off at 11:00 a.m. CST. Road closures begin earlier in the morning, with Perkins Road closed in both directions from Terrace Avenue to South Acadian starting at 9:00 a.m. for the Shamrock Run at 9:30 a.m., and remaining closed until roughly 2:30 p.m. South Acadian Thruway from Bawell Street to Broussard closes by 10:00 a.m. and reopens once the parade passes. Glenmore Boulevard and portions of Hundred Oaks Boulevard serve as staging areas with limited access beginning at 8:30 a.m. Parking along the route is limited, so attendees are encouraged to arrive early, park outside the closure zone, or use ride share services. Portable restrooms are available at multiple points along the route.

Beyond the logistics and the history, the community response speaks volumes. One Facebook reviewer wrote, “Baton Rouge has two parades worth going to and this is the first one.” Another described it as “the most fun, family friendly parade in Baton Rouge.” Others keep it simple with “Lots of beads and lots of fun.” Families attend year after year. Kids love it. College students show up in green. Visitors have traveled from as far as Fort Worth to experience it and called it awesome.

Wearin’ of the Green is not just a parade that rolls through Baton Rouge. It is a spring tradition that brings neighborhoods together, fills the streets with music and beads, and reminds the city why, every March, everyone reaches for something green. The next parade rolls March 14, 2026.

Photo Sourced from Facebook: