This Saturday, March 15, the city of Charlotte will be celebrating St. Patrick’s Day with the 12th annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Charlotte Goes Green Festival. This year’s Grand Marshal is Maureen O’Boyle from WBTV news.
The St. Patrick’s Day Parade is a non-profit event, open to the public. For those of you who have been before, you will notice that this year the parade route has changed due to the ACC Tournament being in town. The parade will start at 10:30AM at Tryon and 9th Street and head South to Tryon and 3rd Street. The Charlotte Goes Green Festival has moved locations as well. It will be held on Tryon St. from 3rd Street to 1st Street. The festival hours are 10AM – 6:30 PM. The event includes Irish music, Irish dancers, bagpipers, food, vendors and plenty of beverages. And best of all, admission is free.
Consider taking the Light Rail system so that you don’t have to pay for parking. If you reference our previous article, “A Mom’s Guide to the New Light Rail LYNX” you can find detailed information on times and stations. It looks like the 9th Street Station is the place to go for the parade, as it is only two blocks from Tryon. Go to http://www.charlottestpatsday.com/map.htm for a map of the event.
Charlotte Goes Green Entertainment Schedule:
12:00 – 12:20pm Walsh-Kelley School of Irish Dance – “Traditional Irish Dancers who have competed successfully in International competitions in Ireland”
12:30 – 1:15pm Anam Cara – “Mix of traditional Celtic tunes with driving beat, high energy, and soaring sounds”
1:25 – 1:40pm Rince Na’ Eireann Dance School “Traditional Irish Dancers who have competed successfully in International competitions in Ireland”
1:50 – 2:10pm Grandfather Mountain Pipe Band – “One of North Carolina’s best pipe and drum bands”
2:20 – 3:05pm The Merrows – “Blend of genres….mixing Irish music and African drums, Americana folk and jazz themes”
3:10 – 3:30pm Walsh- Kelley School of Irish Dance
3:40 – 4:30pm Anam Cara
4:35 – 4:55pm Rince Na’ Eireann Dance School
5:05 – 6:00pm The Merrows
I remember as a little girl going to the parade with my family, so I am going to try to make this a family tradition. My husband, the two girls and I are going to the parade and will attend some of the Go Green Festival until naptime. I’ll follow up and let you how it went, how child-friendly it is and what I might do differently next year.
Have you been to the St. Patrick’s Day Parade & Festival in Charlotte? Share your tips!
