Aside from dishing out the obligatory emerald-hued beer (would it be St. Patty’s without that frothy concoction?) the 40th annual Delray St. Patrick’s Day Parade keeps Mamma Earth in mind by encouraging participants to focus on recycling and conservation in their floats and displays.

Awards are offered for inventive interpretations of this theme. When the parade kicks off on Saturday, March 15, 2008, no monster trucks or semis will be allowed. Instead, parade organizers are encouraging the use of hybrid cards, or even human-powered floats.  

Throwing of beads, coins or other debris is also prohibited.

Starting at 10 a.m., free parking-lot parties will serve up live music and Irish food before and after the main parade, which runs from 1 to 2:30 p.m. along Atlantic Avenue from Gleason Street to Swinton Avenue. 

This year’s event also honors parade founder Maury Powers, who (legend has it) jump-started local tradition 40 years ago by holding a one-man whiskey-fueled procession down Atlantic Avenue.

Resplendent in his top hat and shillelagh, Powers was determined to get Delray residents into the Irish spirit. Apparently, it worked. Their annual bash is now promoted as Florida’s largest St Patrick’s Day charity parade. 

Learn more at www.festivalmanagementgroup.com.