By Mike Finney

DOVER — This year’s St. Patrick’s Day parade downtown will see more than just the wearin’ of the green.

It will also feature a nod to the Dover High School blue and white.

The procession — a collaboration between Destination Downtown Dover and the city — will make its way down Loockerman Street on Saturday, beginning at 1 p.m., to be followed by the inaugural Capital Crawl, which will shuttle participants to various restaurants and bars from 2-6.

It promises to be a festive time, for the Irish and non-Irish alike, said Codi Canasa and Tabby Proud, co-owners of AGAPÉ Body Piercings and the parade’s organizers for two years.

“This year, Dover has even more to celebrate because there were two different Dover High basketball teams (unified and boys’) that won championships, and the Dover cheerleaders won their championship, too, and they’re going to nationals,” Ms. Canasa said.

“I just wanted to make it more than just about green stuff.”

While the accomplishments of Dover High’s varsity basketball team will be celebrated during the festivities, the players will be unable to make it because they will be attending a tournament at the University of Delaware.

However, the school’s state champion unified team will be at the head of the parade, just behind grand marshal Dina Vendetti, president of the Central Delaware Chamber of Commerce.

Per tradition, the gathering will also include everything St. Patrick’s Day — from leprechauns to shamrocks to other symbols of Irish heritage.

And three judges will select their favorite entries at the end.

“We’ve got over 50 participants, which is huge,” Ms. Canasa said. “We’re proud of having really large numbers that make it worth it for the families to come out because there’s nothing worse than getting your whole family, getting your snacks, getting your chairs set up, and by the time you open your chair, the parade’s over, and we’re done.

“We are proud that, over the past few years, we have had over 40 minutes each on the parade, so it gives people enough of a reason to come out.”

The procession will start at Loockerman and Federal streets, and proceed down Loockerman all the way to the Duncan Center.

The judges and entertainment will be on the Bradford Street corner, across from Loockerman Way Plaza. A few food trucks will also sell refreshments at that location.

Ms. Canasa added that the theme for this year’s stroll is “Shamrockin’ Good Time” — symbolizing getting back outside to enjoy camaraderie after the winter.

“We have floats. We have (DJ Sticks) for before and after the parade, and he will also be the emcee,” she said. “We have three judges from the local community, Dover police, fire departments. Those are always a big fan favorite (with) those big firetrucks and ... the music and everything.

“St. Patty’s is always like the start of the festival/outdoor event season, when it’s not as cold and about ready to warm up.”

The organizers selected Ms. Vendetti as the parade’s leader because the Central Delaware Chamber of Commerce has “done so much in this last year — they have won so many awards and accreditations — that we just want to highlight Dover business, so we made her the grand marshal.”

Ms. Canasa also thanked Kay Sass, public affairs and emergency management coordinator for the city, for handling Saturday’s logistics.

And, as far as the weather goes, the organizers are thrilled that the forecast is calling for sunny skies and temperatures near the mid-60s.

“This is the first time in three years that the weather has been on our side,” Ms. Canasa said. “This year, the weather’s looking nice, and people are excited. You can feel the sense of excitement in Dover, not just from the championship basketball teams, but I think people are really looking for something to celebrate.

“This winter has been really uneventful, and with all of the stuff looming with politics and this and that, I think people want an escape. People want family. People want fun.”

Crawling through the capital

Along with Saturday’s parade, the Capital Crawl is making its first foray into Dover’s St. Patrick’s Day festivities.

“This is replacing the History, Heritage and Hops that (Destination Downtown Dover) used to do in May, so instead of doing two kind of similar events — one being bigger than the other — we thought, ‘Let’s do a different type of event,’ so the first-ever Capital Crawl is right after the parade,” said Ms. Canasa.

“We have eight local restaurants and bars involved, and we provide transportation. Participants get a really cool T-shirt, and they get it stamped by the bars on the passports that are on the back. People can win prizes and all kinds of stuff.”

She added that several of the venues are on Loockerman Street, adjacent to the parade route. Plus, Rail Haus, 9 East Taphouse and 1857 Jackson House are included.

Crawl participants must be 21 or older. To purchase a $25 ticket, visit square.link/u/dyvrumgy.

“This year, there’s even more to celebrate than just St. Patrick’s Day,” said Ms. Canasa. “I hope the community comes out and joins us.”