Everyone knows that St. Patrick’s Day is on March 17, but what some students may not know is that the holiday comes early here in Binghamton. On Saturday, March 6, the same St. Patrick’s Day Parade that marches through New York City will make its annual pit stop Downtown. And just as everyone is Irish on St. Patrick’s Day, everyone is drunk in Binghamton on Parade Day.

The parade starts at 1:30 p.m. but the festivities begin much earlier, with many “Kegs and Eggs” parties beginning as early as 10 a.m. In order to enjoy Parade Day to the fullest, here are a few tips those new to the festivity should keep in mind.

1. Plan ahead

Buy your alcohol the night before so you can enjoy beer with your breakfast — nobody wants to wake up at 9 a.m. to get the Guinness and Bailey’s.

2. Dress warm and wear your walking shoes

After watching the Parade, everyone rushes to the bars and they get absolutely packed. Even the inflatable bar outside gets filled with drunk students, so be prepared to be hanging out outside for the greater part of the day.

Ladies, wear shoes that are comfortable. Besides the fact that you’ll probably be judged for trying to look sexy in four-inch heels for a parade, you will be on your feet all day — and you don’t want your hurting feet to ruin your time.

3. Be careful with your choice of drinks once you make your way to a bar

Even though JT’s dirt-cheap Irish Car Bombs may be tempting, please refrain from taking three of them after drinking beer all day. Just because it’s Parade Day doesn’t mean the good ole saying “beer before liquor, never sicker” isn’t valid.

4. Go to the dining hall after the Parade has ended

This obviously isn’t necessary, but it’s hilarious. It’s one of the rare occasions when Sodexo food will taste good.

5. Rest up

If you are planning on going out on the night of Parade Day, you may want to consider taking a nap some time beforehand. Some people may need a nap in order to last the entire night. Other people may find themselves blessed with the luck of the Irish and will be able to function without taking a break from drinking. Evaluate the type of partier you are and make your decision to nap accordingly.

For those new to Parade Day, these tips will hopefully be helpful come Saturday. One last important tip: try not to black out because these are memories that you won’t want to forget.