30th Annual Kelly’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade

An RC truck tows it's passenger at the 30th Annual Kelly's St. Patrick's Day Parade.
An RC truck tows it’s passenger at the 30th Annual Kelly’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

The Outer Banks Marches along the Beach Road

The Annual Kelly’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade is about as Outer  Banks as it gets. Sure it’s also a celebration of all things Irish with lot of green and and all the trimmings. 

But really, what the Kelly’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade is, is the Outer Banks on parade. 

Where else could anyone go to see, in the space of two hours, fire trucks, antique cars, marching bands, dogs in St. Patrick’s Day regalia, a trumpet playing unicycle rider who also juggles, local businesses draping a banner over their work vehicles and a few politician thrown in for good measure. 

And, of course, a a three-year-old riding in a wagon being towed by an RC truck escorted by dogs.

The weather yesterday for the parade was good. A little chilly, but with bright sunshine it wasn’t bad at all.

Because of some work Nags Head is doing to improve storm drainage in Gallery Row, the parade was a bit shorter than usual, but it didn’t really seem to matter all that much. The crowds lining the Beach Road were as large as always, and to seemed as though there were as many participating as there ever was.

The St. Patrick’s Day Parade is just one of the big event that happens in March on the Outer Banks. The next big event is the Outer Banks Taste of the Beach, coming up the last weekend in March. That’s Thursday-Sunday, March 28-31.

Outer Banks version of the Taste of the Beach is a must experience part of local life. From Corolla to Manteo and even onto the mainland a little bit, there are food prep demos, wine and beer tastings, great food and really good time.

If you have not reserved you home for the Outer Banks Taste of the Beach, check out what Joe Lamb, Jr. & Associates has to offer.

30th Annual Kelly’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade This Sunday

Scene from last year's 29th Annual Kelly's St. Patrick Day Parade.
Scene from last year’s 29th Annual Kelly’s St. Patrick Day Parade.

A Kelly’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade that actually falls on St. Patrick’s Day? Unheard of…unprecedented…and yet it is happening.

The 30th Annual Mike Kelly’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade will be this Sunday, March 17.

The Parade is always held on the Sunday closest to March 17 so evidently 30th time is the charm.

Marching along the Beach Road in Nags Head, this is one parade that absolutely has to be experienced. It’s a bit whacky, with a trumpet playing unicycle rider, dogs dressed in green and the South Nags Head White Trash Marching Band that features drummers playing trash cans and kazoos for instruments.

There are also some very good marching bands mixed in, a lot of antique cars and generally it’s a reminder of just how special and wonderful the Outer Banks can be.

The route is usually a mile long, ending at Gallery Row in Nags Head. However, because of storm drainage work in the Gallery Row area the parade will have to be shorter this year. It will only be a half a mile.

Experienced parade goers know—it’s mid March, the route is right by the Atlantic Ocean and temperatures can go from 60 with the sun out to 45 if clouds roll in from the sea. Dress accordingly. In 30 years, Mike Kelly has never postponed or cancelled the event. Daytime temperatures are forecast to be around 45 at parade time, 1:00 p.m., on Sunday with a brisk north wind. Plenty of sunshine, though.

That’s still plenty of time to enjoy one of the most fun and fantastic parade events anywhere.

There is always a special reason to visit the Outer Banks. Check out our Joe Lamb, Jr. & Associates listings for the finest homes in the best locations.

Looking Forward to Spring OBX Events

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Now that we’re halfway through the month of February, it’s time to start looking forward to some of the springtime events coming up on the Outer Banks.

The big springtime event is the Taste of the Beach, which, with restaurants from Corolla to Manteo participating, is as much an exploration of the area as it is a culinary delight. Scheduled from Thursday March 17-Sunday March 20, this is one to put on the calendar.

Of course for us here at Joe Lamb Jr., & Associates & Associates, the highlight has got to be the Outer Banks BBQ & Wing Showdown. We’ve been the sponsor of this event of a number of years, we always have a blast with it, the food is amazing, and the fun over the top.

Even better this year, the Outer Banks Visitors Bureau is co-sponsoring with us and we get to use the Soundside Event Site in Nags Head which allows us to have even more people on had to sample wings and barbecue and vote for their favorite.

We also have the perfect way to kick off the week. Be here Sunday March 13 for the 27th Annual Kelly’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade. A mile long parade on the Beach Road in Nags Head, it may be the whackiest most fun parade ever to grace the streets of the Outer Banks.