Pavlik grand marshal of St. Pat's parade|MAP

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The parade begins at 1 p.m. Sunday.

BOARDMAN — Kelly “The Ghost” Pavlik of Youngstown, middleweight boxing champion, is grand marshal of the 30th annual Mahoning Valley St. Patrick’s Day Parade set for 1 p.m. Sunday. The parade route runs along Market Street from McClurg Road to Southwoods Avenue.

Co-sponsors of the parade are The Vindicator, WFMJ Channel 21 and Mahoning Valley Irish organizations.

“Kelly has been in the parade ever since he started boxing,” said Joyce Kale-Pesta, parade committee president. “He’s always come back to the engineers’ hall and signed autographs for the kids. My grandson still has his autograph on his mirror.”

It’s unknown if Pavlik’s schedule will permit him to attend the parade after-party this year at the Operating Engineers Local 66 Hall, McClurg Road.

After-party regulars the Shaeffer Brothers of Akron will perform again this year at the hall along with performers from the Burke School of Irish Dance.

Awards including those for Best Irish Theme will be presented there, too.

Last year’s parade drew 108 units and about 13,000 spectators, and organizers hope for a similar or better showing this year.

The parade committee bought a 10-foot helium balloon to commemorate the 30th anniversary, and it will lead Sunday’s parade as well as parades in future years.

Former Mahoning County Commissioner Ed Reese and his wife, Diane, of Canfield, both longtime parade committee members, will serve as Lord Mayors of Kilkenny. Joe Calinger of Liberty, another long-serving committee member, is this year’s recipient of the Ockerman Award for his contributions to the parade.

Kilkenny is the name of an old Irish settlement, formerly in the Poland Avenue-Gibson Street-Franklin Avenue area of Youngstown.