The byways of downtown Mystic will be a sea of green on Sunday, when the ever-popular Mystic Irish Parade hits the streets for its 16th year.

And we do mean ever-popular. This event draws upwards of 30,000 spectators, who lie the sidewalks. More than 2,000 individuals usually participate in the parade itself, marching, dancing, playing instruments or riding in a float.

This year’s grand marshal is Mystic Fire Chief Frank (Fritz) Hilbert. He has been a firefighter for 48 years and Mystic fire chief for 30 of those years.

Mystic Irish Parade, 1 p.m. Sunday, downtown Mystic; routes starts at Greenmanville Avenue at Mystic Seaport’s South Parking Lot, travels down Greenmanville, Willow, Broadway, Main, ending on Water Street at the Mystic Art Association; www.mysticirishparade.org.