4 St. Patrick's Day parades to roll in New Orleans, Metairie

The big picture: Two parades roll this weekend in New Orleans and Metairie, with two more next week.

• The festivities start Friday with the Old Metairie Irish Festival Block Party at Gennaro's.
• On Saturday, Parasol's and The Channel host an Irish Channel block party. The Channel replaced Tracey's Irish Channel Pub after it closed last year.
• The Irish Channel parade rolls after noon Mass at St. Mary's Assumption.
• Organizers say they will parade with 1,400 members, their largest turnout. The parade has 30 floats, plus marchers, dance krewes and other performers.

On Sunday, the LCMC Health St. Patrick's Day Classic race starts at 9am on the Metairie Road parade route.

• The 55th annual St. Patrick's Day Parade rolls at 11am through Old Metairie.
• It has 32 floats, 51 truck floats and 11 marching groups, according to its website.

If you go: These parades are known for fresh produce like heads of cabbage.

• The riders aren't supposed to throw produce, but it still happens. The Metairie Road parade banned potatoes, lemons and limes to prevent injuries.
• Keep your head on a swivel.

Zoom out: On Tuesday — St. Patrick's Day — there are block parties at Annunciation Square and Parasol's.

• The Downtown Irish Club parade marches at 6:30pm from the Marigny Triangle.
• On March 22, the Louisiana Irish-Italian Parade rolls in Metairie on Veterans Memorial Boulevard.
• St. Bernard has its Irish Italian Isleños Parade on April 11.