St. Patrick’s Day is this Thursday, March 17 and St. John’s is getting geared up for a day of festivities. In honor of the holiday, St. John’s students will march in the New York City St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Campus Activities will have a special “DAC After Dark.”

Brian Browne, the assistant vice president for Government Relations is coordinating the event, which will include students, faculty and staff. According to him, there will be approximately 50 students marching in the parade, as well as more than 100 other members of the St. John’s community.

“My favorite part of the parade is hearing the positive feedback from the parade spectators on the sideline,” said Browne. “Shouts like ‘Go St. John’s’ or ‘I went to St. John’s’ demonstrate just how much New Yorkers connect with St. John’s.”

Started in 1762, this is the 250th  anniversary of the parade. Over 150,00 participants will march up 5th Avenue amidst millions of spectators.

Popular writer and novelist Mary Higgins Clark will be the Grand Marshal of the parade. Clark was born and raised in the Bronx, and traces her Irish heritage to Sligo and Mayo counties in Ireland. Former grand marshals feature names such as Governor Hugh Carey, an alumnus of St. John’s, Cardinal John O’Connor and New York City police commissioner Raymond Kelly.

“DAC After Dark” will allow students to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with free rainbow cupcakes and green clover cookies. The event is at 8:00 p.m. in the DAC Living Room and is sponsored by Campus Activities and free for all students.