Corktown's annual St. Patrick's Day celebrations bring parade, prayer, food and drink
Mid-March is upon us once again, and with it comes the annual St. Patrick's Day celebrations in Detroit's Corktown neighborhood.
The party starts on Sunday, March 16, at 1 p.m., when the beloved Detroit St. Patrick's Parade will begin proceeding down Michigan Avenue between 6th and 14th Streets. The parade is expected to draw between 80,000-100,000 revelers. Businesses throughout Corktown will host special events, live music, and Irish-inspired menus.
'We are excited to welcome thousands to Corktown for the St. Patrick's Parade,' said former Detroit City Councilwoman Sheila Cockrel. 'This parade is a testament to the strength and spirit of our city. Detroit has long been a hub for major events that bring people together, celebrate our diverse heritage, and showcase the vibrant small businesses that make Corktown and our entire city so special.'
Bob Roberts, owner of McShane's and president of the Corktown Business Association, emphasized the economic importance of the parade for local businesses.
'We're still feeling the effects of the pandemic,' Roberts said, 'and events like the St. Patrick's Parade bring a much-needed boost to our restaurants, bars and shops. It's not just a celebration – it's a lifeline for Corktown's small business community.'
At the heart of this Monday's festivities will be Corktown's Most Holy Trinity Church, celebrating its 190th observance of the holiday.
'Most Holy Trinity Church is the oldest Irish church in the Midwest United States, founded in 1834 to serve the Irish population in Detroit,' said the church's pastor, Monsignor Chuck Kosanke, a Detroit native. 'In 1954, it started a fundraiser called Sharin' of the Green to raise money for its programs and outreach. It's the largest Irish gathering in the state of Michigan on St. Patrick's Day.'
The day kicks off with a noon mass that draws about 800 worshippers annually to Most Holy Trinity Church (1050 Porter St.). Doors open at 11 a.m. for the free, first-come-first-seated event.
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From 1:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. Monday, the Taste of Corktown will be held at the Peter and Connie Cracchiolo Community Center at Most Holy Trinity Catholic Academy (1229 Labrosse St.), featuring live music, food from restaurants throughout Corktown, craft beer and Irish whiskey. Tickets are $50 for the cocktail party-style event, and attendance is capped at 250 attendees.
'This year's Taste of Corktown honorary chairman is Sean Maloney,' said Kosanke. 'You can't really get more Irish than that! Sean is the CFO of Auto Club Group.
'On St. Patrick's Day, there are two groups of people – Irish, and honorary Irish. It's a fabulous event, and your support for the event helps people in need. We have a food and clothing pantry that's open two days a week, for emergency help. And some people can't afford the funeral costs to bury loved ones. We can't pay for the whole thing, but we help with that.'
Information about mass and Taste of Corktown can be found at Most Holy Trinity Church's website, mhtdetroit.org, and info on the parade at detroitstpatricksparade.com.
Contact Free Press arts and culture reporter Duante Beddingfield at dbeddingfield@freepress.com.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Corktown's annual St. Patrick's celebrations to return this weekend
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