This is an opportunity for family and friends to get together and enjoy a day together. Come and join us! Be sure to dress warmly! Hope you, too, have a Happy St. Patrick's Day!  

Bay City's parade began in 1955 and has grown to an event that has become a celebration for the Irish and Irish at heart.

The first St. Patrick's Day Parade was on March 17, 1955 at 5:30 p.m. The parade started at Center Avenue and Monroe Street and disbanded at City Hall on Washington Avenue. Mr. Jim Noonan was the Parade Marshal and 10,000 people attended the parade. Sheila Tennant was the St. Patrick's Day Queen riding the St. Patrick's Day float that featured a "harp" theme. Parade participants included the Central high school band, local Boy Scout troops, the Auburn Accordion marching band, Knights of Columbus Fourth Degree drill team, AAA Furniture, Michigan Bell Telephone, Gillman Plumbing, Sabourin Drugs, and the Munger Civil Defense unit.

Past parades have featured the Notre Dame marching band and pipe bands from the U.S. and Canada.  Among the marchers in the parade have been Michigan’s governor, Uncle Sam and a “bonafide” leprechaun. Horses, motorcycles, and Irish Wolfhounds have all been in our parades.

Each year our Queens pageant provides scholarship monies for the Queen and court. These young women of Irish descent are selected based on a personal interview a well as on stage poise and creativity. Scholarship awards total $2,000.

The 2010 parade will include the newly designed St. Patrick’s Day queen’s float, other new entries and many of the favorites from past parades. Marching bands, pipe bands, and drill teams will march down the street led by the 2010 Parade Marshal, Helen Salois. The parade begins at 2:00 p.m. at Center and Park Avenues and ends at Wenona Park.

Please join us and we hope you and yours have a Happy St. Patrick's Day. Slainte!

Check out our new website at www.stpatparadebaycity.org

Bagpipe band at the Grand Ledge Opera House. Admission Free

Roaming bagpipers will be in town for your enjoyment. Local Merchants will be open for you to shop and experience the great Irish decorations.

11:00 Noon- Free Movie at the Sun Theater

2:00pm Parade starts- come see The Goderich Drum & Bagpipe Band, The Glen Erin Bagpipe Band, floats, The Michigan National Guard, decorated bicycles, Queens Court and much more.

3:30pm-5:00 Irish Dance Company of Michigan and a Bagpipe Band. Located at the Grand Ledge Opera House. Free Admission

5:30pm-8:30pm St. Patrick’s Parade Fundraiser & Celebration. This will be held at the Opera House. Advanced tickets are $15.00 or $20.00 at the door.

Tickets available at Four Seasons Gift Shop and The Chamber of Commerce. 9:00pm til whenever - Pub Crawl – Visit all of our fine Pubs in the area and vote for your favorite. – Enjoy the different atmospheres of our local Pubs

If you have any questions contact Ken Black 517-627-7469, Dan O’Shea 517-627-0758, Jim Hogan 517-

627-8360, Greg Osburn 517-627-7831 or the Chamber of Commerce 517-627-2383