Syracuse.com journalist Charlie Miller was selected this week to serve as grand marshal of the Green Beer Sunday Parade on Tipperary Hill, dubbed by its founders the “world’s shortest parade.”
The parade is Sunday, Feb. 25 at noon. The green beer celebration goes on all day with live music from Mere Mortals outside starting at 3 p.m.
Dennis Coleman, owner of Coleman’s, organizes the event. He and others selected Miller this week to marshal the parade.
“Charlie is a welcome face wherever he goes, with or without his camera,” Coleman said. “He likes good food, enjoys an adult beverage and likes to share the ‘fun Central New York has to offer’ with everyone.”
Miller is a multimedia journalist who has been with syracuse.com and The Post-Standard for 37 years. In his current role, he seeks out and writes about the best food, drinks and stories from the region’s restaurants and bars.
Green Beer Sunday attracts thousands of people to Tipperary Hill for the unofficial kickoff of St. Patrick’s season in Syracuse. Coleman’s parades a tanker truck (that’s maybe filled with green beer) two blocks down Tompkins Street, preceded by bagpipers, Irish dancers, neighborhood organizations and revelers. It’s one of the biggest annual neighborhood events in the city.
Miller will pour the ceremonial first beer from the tanker truck.
“It’s not about beer; it’s about community,” Miller said. “And I’m oh-so honored to be the guy pouring the first round this year.”
Past marshals of the event include Mike and Mary Kay Ryan, Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh, Nancy Duffy, former Congressman Jim Walsh, former mayor Stephanie Miner, former Syracuse newspaper columnist Dick Case and Onondaga County Comptroller Marty Masterpole.
The Mere Mortals peform at Green Beer Sunday in Syracuse. (Charlie Miller | cmiller@syracuse.com)