No green beer needed for today’s St. Patrick’s Day event. Save the tinted brew for the actual holiday on Wednesday.

You’ll be seeing enough green at the St. Patrick’s Day parade in downtown Colorado Springs.

The parade, starting at noon, has about 100 entries, including about 25 floats and three bagpipe bands.

“They are really doing it up this year,” said parade chairman John O’Donnell. “The float competition has really heated up.”

The competition should match the weather. The forecast calls for end-of-the-rainbow perfect temperatures. So, there’s no excuse not to get out and celebrate the patron saint of Ireland. You don’t have to be Irish or look like a leprechaun. 

The green stuff to fund the parade doesn’t come from taxpayers. Sponsors foot the bill.

The parade is expected to draw more than 30,000 spectators to Tejon Street.

During the 2007 St. Patrick’s Day Parade, seven war protesters who attempted to march were arrested for refusing to cooperate with police. Charges were dropped after a hung jury resulted in a mistrial for the seven.

There hasn’t been any such blarney in parades since.

Today’s parade runs along Tejon Street from East St. Vrain Street to Vermijo Avenue. The reviewing stand is in front of 25 N. Tejon St.

A record 1,800 runners are expected for the 10 a.m. 5K St. Patrick’s Day race that is part of the Grand Prix of Running series. A children’s fun run is at 11 a.m. Races start at Acacia Park.

For information: www.csstpats.com

Crowds enjoyed good weather at the 2008 St. Patrick’s Day parade. Photo by THE GAZETTE FILE

KIRK SPEER

“Super Dave” flipped through the air at the 2009 St. Patrick’s Day parade. Photo by THE GAZETTE FILE