The Italian-American Marching Club's St. Joseph's Day Parade is Saturday, March 9, starting at 6 p.m. at Chartres and Canal streets. The parade marches through the French Quarter and Central Business District, with men passing out flowers in exchange for kisses or throwing beads from the new Rolling Cannoli float. After the parade, which ends on Convention Center Boulevard, the Club will host its Muffaletta Dance at the Hilton Riverside Hotel, starting at 9 p.m. and featuring music by Louisiana Spice. This is the first year that the dance is open to the public, and admission is $40.

The month of March in New Orleans has always been a sort of second coming of Mardi Gras style parades. St. Patrick's Day is March 17, and St. Joseph's Day is March 19. But the party month begins and ends with events that don't ask people to choose between Team Patrick and Team Joseph.