Image by Amanda Click / TheDigitel

Break out your green gear and let the spirit of the Irish take over. It's St. Patrick's Day, and that means parades, Catholic mass, and beer.

Today's downtown events kick off with an 8 a.m. Catholic Mass at St. Patrick's Church on Radcliffe Street. The always enjoyable St. Patrick's Day Parade follows at 10 a.m., beginning on Radcliffe Street and ending at Broad and Legare Street. The Hibernian Society Parade will follow just behind the main parade.

There are no official street closures and no parking restrictions in place, but police say they will recognize "rolling closures" in which traffic and streets will be blocked temporarily while the parades pass through.

The Post and Courier has a map of the parade route if you'd like to get a better look.