Hundreds of people are expected to descend on the tiny Ottawa County Village of Conklin Thursday, for the annual St. Patrick's Day parade that has made the town famous.
The parade begins on the north end of Main St. promptly at 10:55. If you plan on attending, you'd better be there on time... or you just might miss it.
The route is only about 150 yards long from the start of the parade, until participants make a right turn into the Conklin Bar's front door...where the house will be packed all day and all night long. Irish music will be playing and the Guiness will be flowing.
The Grand Rapids Catholic Central marching band will once again participate in the parade, as will other Irish musicians, floats, and of course people in all kinds of green costumes.
The Conklin Bar used to be known as Fenian's, now it's under new ownership, but the new owners knew they wanted to keep the St. Paddy's Day parade tradition going strong.
Thursday's specials include Guiness, Irish stew, and corned beef and hash.