The 2021 Hal’s St. Paddy’s Parade has been canceled, at least in person.

Parade organizers, the City of Jackson, Visit Jackson, Downtown Jackson Partners, and the University of Mississippi Medical Center issued today’s joint statement.

Citing ongoing health and safety concerns due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the decision was reached after extensive discussion with the City of Jackson, sponsors and stakeholders of the parade, and the Mississippi State Department of Health.

“We have determined that the St. Paddy’s parade cannot be safely produced in its traditional format, given the COVID-19 virus is still very much a health threat, and vaccination efforts are still in their early stages,” said Malcolm White, founder and chief organizer of the parade. “We must put the health of parade participants and the general public at the forefront of any decision, and we have done just that.”

The St. Paddy’s Parade is a fundraising event benefitting the Blair E. Batson Hospital for Children at the University of Mississippi Medical Center.

Parade organizers are working to produce a live virtual parade event that will air on March 27, 2021. The virtual event will allow the group to continue to raise money for Blair E. Batson through sponsorships and donations related to the live virtual event.

In 2019, the last year the in-person parade was held, the event raised over $10,000 for the children’s hospital.

The City of Jackson, Visit Jackson, Downtown Jackson Partners, and the University of Mississippi Medical Center support the canceling of the in-person event for the year.

More details regarding the 2021 virtual Hal’s St. Paddy’s Parade will be released in the coming weeks.