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WEARIN’ OF THE GREEN PARADE
HISTORY
OME TYPE OF ST. PATRICK’S DAY CELEBRATION HAS
taken place in Baton Rouge, LA since 1906 when the
male-only Sons of Erin attended mass and participated
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in a walking parade. In 1951, the Irish Club of Baton Rouge was
formed to include both men and women and would be a viable
organization for many years shipping in fresh shamrocks for
the celebration. A green line was painted down the center of
the downtown parade route. However, by 1967 the interest had dramatically
dwindled. The club was in disarray. Records ended.
Fifteen years later, WBRZ-TV weathercaster Pat Shingleton was assigned to cover a very
small St. Patrick’s Day Parade and determined that Baton Rouge needed a better parade. His
acquisition of Zee Zee Gardens Pub located at 2900 Perkins with brother Kevin, Martin Schott
and Andy Ezell crystallized his vision. The following year, Pat reignited the Baton Rouge Irish
Club by starting The Wearin’ of the Green, St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Perkins Road. The pub would
become synonymous with the parade in the early years and would be the primary location for Irish Club
meetings and the Irish Club breakfast prior to the parade.
Pat’s initial intention was to lead and coordinate the parade for a couple of years, then rotate out so another Irish Club member
could take over. Over the years, Zee Zee’s changed hands however the parade has rolled on with Shingleton at the lead. The
event is organized and staged now by The Parade Group, LLC which are Shingleton family members.
Thank you Baton Rouge and thank you Louisiana for your support!
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