All right, all right: get all the jokes out of your system about having a Saint Patrick’s Day parade and festival not on March 17 but on March 1.

The truth is, having all St. Patty’s festivities happen on March 17 would mean dividing up the audience and the bands and organizations that march in these parades. Isn’t it better for all of the Irish fans to have events spread out over the course of March to extend the holiday through the entire month?

We begin the St. Patrick’s celebrations this Sunday, when Norwich holds its seventh annual Norwich Saint Patrick’s Day Parade and Festival.

The procession begins at 1 p.m. The route travels down the following streets: Main, Franklin, Willow, Chestnut, Broadway and back to Main.

In addition to the parade, there is a festival with food trucks and live music. This year, the musicians will perform in a number of establishments throughout downtown Norwich, including Strange Bew Pub, Harp and Dragon, Café Otis, Epicure Brewing and These Guys Brewing. Food trucks will be parked near those same locales.

Children might want to gather at a kids’ area with free activities from 2 to 4 p.m. at 4 Broadway.

The grand marshal for this year’s parade is Lisa Griffin, who is president/CEO of the Eastern CT Savings Bank.

Norwich Saint Patrick’s Day Parade and Festival, 1-5 p.m. Sunday, downtown Norwich; norwichchamber.com.