(istockphoto)

Time to get your best green sweater or shamrock pin ready: The D.C. St. Patrick’s Day parade is around the corner, along with other celebrations.

First, if you need a warmup, there are two parades on Saturday, March 12: The Gaithersburg, MD St. Patrick’s Day Parade is at 10 a.m. and the Manassas, VA St. Patrick’s Day Parade is at 11 a.m.

On Sunday, March 13, after you spring forward, the 45th Annual St. Patrick’s Parade of Washington, D.C. will take place at noon. Over 100 marching bands, military units, dance troupes, floats and more will fill the route with Irish cheer.

The parade starts at Constitution Avenue and 7th Street NW and travels along Constitution to 17th Street NW. The grandstands are between 15th and 16th streets, and organizers call them “a great way to watch the parade—each group is introduced as they approach and you get to see them at their best, performing for the judges.”

And here are street closures:

Early closure 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.:
-7th Street between Constitution Avenue N.W. and Independence Avenue S.W.

Closures from 11:45 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.:
-Constitution Avenue between 6th Street and 23rd Street, N.W.
-9th Street between Pennsylvania Avenue N.W. and Constitution Avenue N.W.
-10th Street between Pennsylvania Avenue N.W. and Constitution Avenue, N.W.
-12th Street between Pennsylvania Avenue N.W. and Independence Avenue S.W. / S.E. S.W freeway
-Access to 12th Street Tunnel from I-395 ramp S.W.
-14th Street between Pennsylvania Avenue N.W. to Independence Avenue S.W.
-Inbound I-395(14th Street Bridge) all traffic will be sent to eastbound I-395 S.W. Freeway.
-15th Street between “E” Street to Constitution Avenue N.W.
-17th Street between New York Avenue N.W. to Independence Avenue S.W.
-19th Street between “E” Street to Constitution Avenue N.W.
-Virginia Ave between 20th Street to Constitution Avenue N.W.

If you want to get the most mileage of your St. Patrick’s attire, Baltimore’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade starts at 2 p.m. The route starts at the Washington Monument, proceeds down Charles Street and continues to Pratt Street and Market Place.

Finally, if you’re still curious about Ireland’s fight for nationalism, Catholic University has an exhibit, “Sworn to Be Free: Irish Nationalism, 1860-1921”, opening Thursday, March 10 and running through May 27, at the Mullen Library.