|
2008 Raleigh St. Patrick's Day Parade
Saturday, March 15, 2008 12:00 Noon
26th
Annual Raleigh St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Festival set for Saturday, March 15th
in Downtown Raleigh
2008 Parade Theme: “Celtic Roots – Southern Branches”
Raleigh, North Carolina –
Rain or shine, at
Noon on Saturday, March 15th downtown Raleigh will come alive with
Celtic tradition as the 26th Annual St. Patrick's Day Parade and
Festival brings the ‘Wearin’ O The Green’ to the Capitol City.
The 2008 parade theme is “Celtic Roots - Southern Branches”, focusing on
over 200 years of Irish and Scotch-Irish influences on the culture and history
of the South and North Carolina.
The parade will feature over 3,000 marchers
including marching bands, floats, military units, local dignitaries, media and
entertainment personalities and civic, cultural, and social groups. The Raleigh
parade is the second largest St. Patrick’s Day parade in the Southeast after
Savannah, Georgia. The Raleigh parade is a celebration for all ethnic groups
and cultures. The Grand Marshal for the parade is Harry Morgan,
Police Chief for the City of Raleigh.
The celebration continues at the After-Parade
Festival in Moore Square immediately following the parade with live
Irish music by Eire Lingus and Homeland. Additional highlights include the
Green Beret Parachute Team jumping from an aircraft into Moore Square
immediately following the parade. Irish organization, ethnic and cultural
tables will be set up in the square as well as children’s’ activities, and food
and fun for all ages.
Moore Square
After-Parade Festival Schedule
Green Beret Jumpers
1:30 Jumpers land via aircraft into Moore
Square
and sign autographs
Celtic Stage Entertainment
1:00- 2:00 Eire Lingus
2:00- 3:00 Homeland
Martin Street Entertainment
Wake County Pipe and Drum Band
Inis Cairde Irish Dancers
Danny Tighe Irish Dancers
In memory of the more than one million Irish who
died in the Potato Famine 150 years ago, marchers and spectators are asked to
remember the hungry of North Carolina. The Food Bank of
Central & Eastern North Carolina
will accept canned food donations
at the parade line-up area; along the parade route; and at Moore Square during
the festival.
The parade starts at the
corner of Cabarrus and Wilmington streets at 12:00 Noon. The route proceeds
north on Wilmington to Davie Street. The route turns west to Fayetteville Street
and continues north to the State House. The route will pass the State House on
the east side and then turn heading east on Edenton Street. The route then turns
south on Blount Street.
The Parade ends at Moore
Square and the festival begins!
The Raleigh St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee is
the organizer and sponsor for the parade and co-sponsor for the after parade
activities held downtown in Moore Square. The parade keeps getting bigger and
better every year. The Raleigh parade is now the second largest in the
Southeast. The 2006 parade will be the 24th St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Raleigh.
The 2008 parade will be held on Saturday, March 15, 2008 beginning at
12:00 Noon.
The 2008 parade had over 3500 marchers including
many floats, pipe and drum bands, horses and riders, Irish wolfhounds, and
motorcycles. Charles Meeker, Raleigh Mayor, was the Grand Marshal. Following the
parade, many activities were held in Moore Square...Irish and Scottish dancers,
pipe and drum bands, face painting and games for the children, and there were
two bands provided by the Raleigh Convention Center and G105 radio. The crowds
along the parade route and in Moore Square were estimated at 20,000 people. The
parade is a celebration for all ethnic groups and cultures.
The parade started in 1883 with a
dozen or so enthusiastic Irish-Americans marching down Wilmington St. to the
delight and curiosity of downtown residents, merchants and shoppers. The parade
was organized initially by John McIntyre and Gail Massari. John and Gail kept
the parade going and growing until 1888 when John was transferred to Germany.
Prior to leaving for Germany they asked Raleigh's Friends of Ireland organization to continue the work they started. The
Friends of Ireland board agreed to organize
the parade. Frank Mellage, the current Parade Chairman, became involved with the
parade at that time. He served on the Parade committee from 1889-1892 and became
Chairman of the committee for the 1893 St. Patrick's Day Parade. The 2006 parade
will be the 11th parade Frank has organized.
Past Grand
Marshals
2004 Bill Gaines, Anchor of NBC 17 News (Raleigh)
2003 Mayor Charles Meeker (Raleigh)
2002 Jane Perlov, Raleigh Police Chief
2001 Sharon Delaney, Anchor of NBC 17 News (Raleigh)
2000 Paul Coble, Raleigh Mayor
1899 Kieran J. Shanhan, Raleigh City Council Member
1898 Donna Gregory, Anchor of NBC 17 News (Raleigh)
1897 Sylvia Wiggins, Exec. Director, Helping Hand Mission
1896 Pam Saulsby, Anchor, WRAL 5 News (Raleigh)
1895 Mayor Tom Fetzer, (Raleigh)
1894 Fred Heineman, Raleigh Police Chief
1893 David Allen, Anchor, Fox TV News
1892 John McIntyre, Parade Founder
Interested in
being a Parade Sponsor?
The Committee is seeking sponsors for this year's Parade. Sponsors
contributing a minimum of $200 will be included in the Parade Program and on
the "Sponsors" page on this
web site. For more information, visit our
page.
After-Parade Festival in Moore
Square
Join us after the parade in Moore Square for hours of entertainment,
shopping, crafts and more! Visit the "Irish Village" for Irish goods and
information on local Irish organizations. Enjoy live entertainment by
musicians, dancers and bands. Headlining the Grand Stage will be
Homeland Band.
For more information, visit the
After-Parade Festival
page.
Parade Committee Members
The Raleigh St. Patrick's Day Parade
Committee is composed of members from the three Irish organizations in the
area: the Friends of Ireland; the Ancient Order of Hibernians; and the
Ulster-Scots Society of America. Committee members include:
for more information visit our
friends at http://www.raleighstpats.org/ |
