RI capital preparing for St. Patrick's parade

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) -- Providence is going green.

Rhode Island's capital will celebrate its Irish heritage on Saturday with the annual St. Patrick's Day parade.

The parade will include local politicians, community groups and businesspeople as well as a military police unit from Ireland. The grand marshal is Superior Court Judge Francis Darigan Jr.

About 3,000 runners are expected to take part in a 5K road race on Saturday morning before the parade steps off. The event, which begins at the Statehouse, is the second leg in the regional "Tour de Patrick," which includes last week's Irish 5K in Pawtucket and Sunday's Celtic 5K in Worcester, Mass.

St. Patrick's Day is March 17.

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