The theme for this year’s St Patrick’s Day Cross Community Carnival Parade in Downpatrick is ‘Myths, Magic, Music: A Celebration’.
The cross community event is one of the highlights of Down District Council’s St Patrick’s Festival.
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The popular St Patrick’s day parade draws around 25,000 people into Downpatrick.[/caption]
The parade will be held in Downpatrick on Tuesday 17 March 2015 at 2.30pm and the event will once again be a colourful cavalcade of floats, performers, people in fancy dress, entertainment, and many other interesting attractions, which will be interspersed with music and dance from around the world.
With just under five weeks to go to the parade, Down District Council is reminding interested organisations that the closing date for parade entries is Friday 27 February 2015.
Community, voluntary, statutory and commercial organisations can take part in the cross-community parade by: entering an entertaining float, vehicle or attraction in the parade; or walking in the parade in fancy dress, traditional costume or club colours.
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A section of the crowd looks on last year as the parade passes by in Downpatrick.[/caption]
Non-commercial groups entering the parade will receive an attendance fee of £100 and all parade entrants will receive refreshment vouchers and a certificate of participation.
It is expected that the parade’s best entry competition will be as hotly contested with entrants vying with one another in an attempt to pick up one of the five best group entry awards of £200.
The parade will assemble on the Ardglass Road from 1pm and will depart at 2.30pm along Edward Street, John Street, Irish Street and Market Street to the finish area in Market Street Car Park. It is estimated that the parade will arrive in the town centre at approximately 2.50pm.
All road junctions and exits/entrances along the parade route will be closed to traffic from approximately 2pm and will reopen at approximately 4pm.
Further information about the parade, including rules and conditions of entry, and entry forms, can be obtained by contacting:
The Community Relations & Development Section, Down District Council, Downshire Civic Centre, Downshire Estate, Ardglass Road, Downpatrick BT30 6GQ.
Telephone 028 4461 0853.
(Down District Council wishes to acknowledge the financial support it is receiving towards the parade from OFMDFM.)
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