The "Greenest, Grandest St. Patrick's Day Parade" will up the ante this year.

Organizers are expecting Dublin's March 16 St. Patrick's Day Celebration parade to be better than last year with a new balloon, more floats and better entries.

"Honestly, I think we have raised the bar in entertainment value this year," said Mary Jo DiSalvo, Dublin events administrator.

"You'll be pleasantly surprised to see new things," DiSalvo said.

"We know people really like the equestrian groups and we have two new (groups) this year. That will be a total of three equestrian groups."

Another group will have mini-horses at the parade, which, according to Event Administrator Trish Lackey, is something of a rarity.

"Kids love them," she said.

Another new element to the parade will be a new balloon, made especially for Dublin. It was inspired by the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, Lackey said.

"They start the parade with a balloon of Macy's logo," she said. "I thought, 'Why can't we do that with our new St. Patrick's Day logo?'"

The city worked with a professional balloon company and created the balloon that will kick off the parade.

The Presidents Cup will also be part of the parade. Lackey said the city used a professional decor company to build a float from scratch.

"It looks like Dublin," she said.

"We're very proud we have the Presidents Cup coming in October and we're generating excitement," DiSalvo said.

Another new addition to the parade will be a group that's new to the city.

"We also have the Dublin Special Olympics group decorating a trolley," DiSalvo said.

"This is their inaugural parade. We're very excited and we welcome them."

Along with new entries will be more floats.

"A few years ago we started educating people on adding to the entertainment value," DiSalvo said.

"A year or two ago we conducted our first parade workshop to show people what it takes to build a good float. So we're expecting more people to come out."

This year's parade also will have more parade partners which is a way for companies to be in the parade by sponsoring a group such as a marching band, clowns or jugglers.

"They're hopping on board with helping to make the parade better for everyone involved," DiSalvo said. "I hope the spectators will notice."

Dublin's St. Patrick's Day Celebration parade will step off from Metro Center on Frantz Road at 11 a.m. and march down Bridge Street through Historic Dublin.

St. Patrick's Day festivities will kick off before the parade at 7 a.m. when the Lion's Club holds its annual breakfast until 11 a.m. at Sells Middle School, 150 W. Bridge St. Adults can eat for $6 while children 12 years old and younger can eat for $4.

The public can watch the parade's balloons come to life at pre-parade festivities with the Inflation Celebration at 9:30 a.m. at Metro Center, 500 Metro Place North.

The Hooligans will return to pump up parade spectators as they play on the review stand on Bridge Street near Indian Run Elementary School from 10:15 to 11:15 a.m.

For more information about the parade or other Dublin St. Patrick's Day activities, look online at dublinohiousa.gov/ events/st-patricks-day-parade/.