The Athletic Club Foundation, in partnership with the Hoosier Lottery, hosted the Hoosier Lottery St. Patrick's Day Kickoff Celebration at the Downtown Indy Canal Walk on Thursday. The event served as the official start to St. Patrick's Day festivities in Indianapolis. A link to the b-roll footage from the event is available here and can be downloaded from Vimeo.

A ceremonial pouring of green dye took place and firefighters from Indianapolis Fire Department and Station 13 helped turn the canal green. The event also featured live entertainment and remarks from local dignitaries including Mayor Joe Hogsett, the 2023 Irish Citizen of the Year John J. Quinn and Hoosier Lottery Executive Director Sarah M. Taylor. Taylor recognized police, firefighters and teacher representatives in attendance. Since the sale of the first ticket on October 13,1989, the Hoosier Lottery has provided $7 billion to worthy causes including local police and firefighters' pensions, the Teachers' Retirement Fund and the Lottery Surplus Fund.

The Athletic Club Foundation honored the late Indiana Governor Joe Kernan during the 2023 Indianapolis St. Patrick's Day celebration with the presentation of the inaugural Taioseach Award. The Irish Gaelic word "Taioseach" means "Chief" or "Leader" in English. The Taoiseach Award will be bestowed periodically by the IACF to honor the memory of past Irish American leaders in the community.The award was presented to Governor Kernan's family during the St. Patrick's Day Kickoff Celebration today.

The St. Patrick's Day celebrations are the Athletic Club Foundation's biggest fundraisers of the year. Proceeds from the events will directly support the Foundation's efforts to help local youth by investing in amateur athletic programs in Indiana.

Details on St. Patrick's Day events planned for the remainder of the week are included below.

41st Annual St. Patrick's Day Parade and Tent Party Presented by the Hoosier Lottery

• On Friday, March 17, St. Patrick's Day celebrations begin with the Indianapolis Public Safety Foundation Parade Tent and Block Party Presented by the Hoosier Lottery at 9:30 a.m. EDT.
• The party will take place on North Street between Meridian Street and Pennsylvania Street. The area will be blocked to vehicle traffic during this time. There will be food trucks and a large, heated tent featuring a beer garden and live entertainment from Highland Reign, a Scots American folk-rock band, along with U2 cover band A Beautiful Day.
• The St. Patrick's Day Parade, presented by the Hoosier Lottery, will begin at 11:30 a.m. EDT. Irish-themed floats, local marching bands, pipe and drum bands, Irish dancers, Catholic schools and other local organizations will participate in the parade.
• The Parade and Tent Party are free and open to the public.
• Athletic Club Foundation and event leadership will be available for on-site media interviews beginning at 6 a.m. EDT. The best location for media interviews and onsite access will be on North Street. Please contact Mallory Wilson with interview requests.

Wee Irish Mile

• A new tradition is coming to the St. Patrick's Day parade this year. For the first time, the Athletic Club Foundation will be hosting the Wee Irish Mile prior to the start of the parade.
• The mile-long run and walk will take place along the parade route at 11:15 a.m. EDT, starting at the intersection of North and Pennsylvania Streets and ending just past North and Meridian Streets.
• Participants are asked to don their best Irish garb including kilts and leprechaun outfits.
• Registration is required to participate in the event. Individuals and groups can register at this link.

30th Annual 5K Shamrock Run & Walk

• The Athletic Club Foundation and the Indianapolis Firefighters Emerald Society will host the 2023 Shamrock Run and Parade Walk on Saturday, March 18 at 11 a.m. EDT.
• The run and walk will begin at the IFD Union Hall Local 416 located at 748 Massachusetts Ave.
• Registration is required to participate in the event. Individuals and groups can register at this link.
• All participants will receive an Adidas t-shirt and a new St. Pat's finisher's medal, and all of-age participants will receive a free post-race beer.

The St. Patrick's Day celebrations hosted by the Athletic Club Foundation will proceed rain or shine unless unexpected weather conditions deem any of the events unsafe. If necessary, the Foundation will share weather-related updates on IndyStPats.com and our social media accounts.

About The Athletic Club Foundation

The Athletic Club Foundation is an all-volunteer non-profit organization that supports youth by investing in amateur athletic programs in Indiana. Since its inception, the Foundation has awarded over $350,000 in grants and impacts over 2,000 kids each year.

About The Hoosier Lottery

For over 30 years, Hoosier Lottery distributions have benefited every county throughout Indiana. The Hoosier Lottery has contributed more than $7 billion to worthy causes, including $30 million to local police and firefighters' pensions and $30 million to the Teachers' Retirement Fund annually. The Hoosier Lottery has earned World Lottery Association Level 4 Certification through 2024 for achieving the highest level of responsible gaming. To learn more about the Hoosier Lottery, visit HoosierLottery.com/GivingBack and follow on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Media Contacts:

Mallory Wilson, CVR
mwilson@cvrindy.com
517-862-8546

Bryan Apolskis, Sequence, Inc.
bryan@sequencesports.com
317-490-4640

Jason Mueller, Hoosier Lottery
jmueller@hoosierlottery.com
317-997-9882