The 2015 Denver St. Patrick’s Day Parade will step off at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, March 14th, and will be led by Grand Marshal Thomas J. “Dr. Colorado” Noel. The parade will begin near Union Station, travel to Blake, march east on Blake ending at 27th street.

The 2015 parade theme “Emerald Mile” is a tribute to Colorado’s Irish heritage, but also to the diverse background on a day when “Everyone is Irish.” The Denver St. Patrick’s Day Parade is unmatched this side of the Mississippi with more than an estimated 350,000 people lining the streets of the Mile High City for the celebration.

Grand Marshal Tom Noel, in addition to being a celebrated author of more than 40 books, is a history professor and Director of Public History, Preservation and Colorado Studies at the University of Colorado Denver. He also appears regularly on local media including 9News’ Colorado & Company and writes a regular column on Colorado history for The Denver Post. Among the books Noel has published are Irish Denver (With former parade GM Dennis Gallagher and Tom Walsh), Colorado Catholicism, The City & The Saloon, and Colorado: A Liquid History & Tavern Guide to the Highest State.

“It is an honor to have one of Colorado’s most-respected historians serve as Grand Marshal in one of Denver’s most historic events said Diann F. LaGrange, president of the board of directors of the Denver St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee (DSPDPC). Tom is over the moon to have been chosen GM and said, “I am honored, delighted and overwhelmed at the opportunity to act as this year’s grand marshal. I enjoy how inclusive the parade is to all groups and the Denver St. Patrick’s Day parade is an event where we can all come together, celebrate Irish history and culture and be Irish – I’m parading as O’Noel!”

Noel’s role as Grand Marshal is joined by his charitable partner the Western History/Genealogy Department at the Denver Public Library, headed by Jim Kroll, one of Noel’s former University of Colorado Denver graduate students. The department’s Western History collection houses more than a million photographs of downtown Denver and historic Denver neighborhoods, including historically Irish communities. In early 2015, the department will add an additional 400,000 digital images from the Rocky Mountain News on the library’s website.

For more information on Dr. Tom “Mr. Colorado” Noel walking tours, talks, courses, books and other information please check http://dr-colorado.com