Parading for St. Patrick

The Story

Erin Go Bragh! St. Patty’s Day is next week (Tuesday March 17th) and the best way to kick it off is with an uptown parade. This year’s parade will take place at 11am, this Saturday March 14th. It will start at 9th & Tryon, head south to 3rd & Tryon then turn left on Caldwell Street. Don’t worry, this will not cut into your green beer money, it’s free!

The Facts

• The 19th annual parade starts at 11am, goes from 9th & Tryon down to 3rd & Tryon then turns left on Caldwell street with the Charlotte Goes Green Festival from 10am – 6pm.
• There will be more than 120 units marching.
• You can expect more than 60,000 people to celebrate all things Irish.
• This year’s grand marshall is Dr. John Young, Ireland’s first honorary consul for North Carolina.
• Wilson of WCCB’s “Wilson’s World” will emcee the parade.
• Returning this year are drumlines, Irish dancers and animal rescue groups.
• First timers include The School of Rock, a band playing Irish rock, and two new bagpipe groups joining the Grandfather Mountain Highlanders and the Charlotte Fire Department Pipes and Drums.
• All the entertainment will be around the stage at the Levine Avenue of the Arts.
• Fun Fact: the famous Guinness Beer’s creator Arthur Guinness started brewing beer in 1759 after he signed a 9,000 year lease for an unused brewery in Dublin. And you thought it was hard getting out of your lease.
• Another fun fact: “Erin Go Bragh” means “Ireland Forever”

The Quote:

“We marched down Tryon Street to some restaurants and bars while singing Irish songs, people loved it. I wanted to create an authentic St. Patrick’s Day parade with a festival to follow. I’m proud of my Irish heritage and wanted to share the excitement and fun.” – Linda Dyer Hart, Founder and Executive Director of the Charlotte St. Patrick’s Day Parade recalling the first Charlotte parade.

C5’s take:

Full disclosure, I am Italian so I am partial to St. Francis of Assi, BUT, no one can top the type of festivities the Irish put on during St. Patty’s Day. Rain or shine, the parade and the party afterwards will be an excellent way to spend your Saturday. Wear your “Kiss Me, I’m Irish!” button proudly, strictly drink beer that is green or Guinness and the luck of the Irish won’t get you home so be safe and take an Uber.

Photos: Todd Sumlin / Charlotte Observer

This story was originally published March 13, 2015 at 12:43 AM with the headline "Parading for St. Patrick."