Rawlings named Grand Marshal of parade

By Christine Finnegan

Forty shades of green will envelope the City of Dallas on March 16 at 11 a.m. as the Dallas Mavs St. Patrick’s Parade & Festival presented by the Dallas Mavericks will celebrate and commemorate four decades of fanfare and revelry. The Greenville Avenue Area Business Association (GAABA) is rising up to the 40-year road with the wind firmly at its collective back with its time honored Dallas tradition for thousands to enjoy the largest St. Patrick’s Day Parade in the Southwest. 

In tribute of festooning Greenville Ave. for 40 years, this year’s procession will feature the first parade president/founder Tom Stephenson (1979-1987), who will be joined by every parade president that has ever served: GAABA Founder, John Ahern (1988-1990), represented by his daughter Amanda Ahern Terilli; Valerie Barrett (1991-1997); Jorge Levy (1998-2013); and Kevin Vela (current president).

“Since 1979 Greenville Avenue has radiated pageantry against the backdrop of food, spirits and community and in its 40th year, we are elated that Mayor Rawlings will be our Grand Marshal,” Kevin Vela, board chairman of the GAABA, said. “Mayor Rawlings has been our city’s stalwart since he took office and he is the ideal person to lead our parade down Greenville Avenue and into the next 40 years.”

 “This is my first year participating with the Dallas Mavericks and I am thrilled to be a part of this proud, long-established event that brings our city together,” Cynthia Marshall, Dallas Mavericks CEO, said. “As presenting sponsor, the Dallas Mavericks will have an indelible parade presence with the Mavs Express bus, Mavs Dancers, Mascots and ManiAACs. The Mavs Corner will be located at the CVS corner of Lovers Lane and Greenville and will showcase food trucks, exhibitors and much more.”

 Featured event spaces (all areas are open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.):

• The Exhibitor Zone will be situated at 5111 Greenville Ave. (Office Depot/CVS) and will feature food trucks, exhibitor booths, sponsor exhibits, family friendly activities and VIP Tailgate Area;

• Brew Fest will be located in the Office Depot parking lot; the presenting sponsor, Deep Ellum Brewing Company, will be pouring select products on tap; entrance to Brew Fest is free and will also feature food trucks, exhibitors and a DJ Station; and

• Parade Sponsor Comerica Bank, located at Lovers Lane and Greenville, will host the 3nd annual Comerica Bank Family Zone equipped with bleacher seating and events for the entire family.

 New this year:

• Additional Exhibitor Zone — at 5521 Greenville Ave — that will highlight the Fellowship zone (Sponsored by Lakewood Fellowship Church) and the first BuzzBallz Party with a private VIP Tailgate area;

• CW33 (KDAF) Parade Live Broadcast — 11 a.m.-1 p.m., from Old Town Shopping Center;

• Concert — featuring tribute bands, playing hits from the last four decades, will take place from noon until 7 p.m. off the Matilda Bridge and Mockingbird Lane.

• Text to Donate — has been established for the parade’s goal of setting a scholarship record for Dallas ISD seniors. The target is $40,000, which is aligned with celebrating the parade’s 40th year. Donations are accomplished by texting “stpat40” to 22525.

The parade route starts on Greenville Boulevard at Blackwell Street, with street closures scheduled to start at 9 a.m. for north and southbound lanes of Greenville Ave. and ends at SMU Boulevard at Central Expressway. Alternative routes around the parade-impacted area include Loop 12, Mockingbird Lane and Park Lane. Parade-goers are encouraged to ride share or ride DART Rail, as parking is extremely limited. Parade route DART Rail stations include Mockingbird, Lovers Lane and Park Lane Stations.

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