The
25th Annual York St. Patrick’s Day Parade will be held on Saturday, March
15, 2008. Step-off is 1 p.m. from Market and Penn Streets; proceeding east
on Market to Duke Street. Approximately 100 entries will be taking part in
this annual celebration of Celtic heritage, including bands, Irish dance
groups, floats, antique and decorated vehicles, clowns, individuals and
family groups, organizations, and media entries.
NEW THIS YEAR: The parade will lead off
with the 32 county flags of Ireland, and a ten-foot-tall leprechaun,
portrayed by Lancaster resident Jerry Brown.
Due to the foot of snow that fell the day
before last year’s parade, which forced organizers to cancel the event, the
2007 Grand Marshal, Dr. James Patrick Murphy, Jr., did not have the
opportunity to ride in the York St. Patrick’s Day Parade. For that reason,
the parade committee did not select a new Grand Marshal this year, so that
Dr. Murphy may enjoy that ride. He will be followed in the parade by a few
past Grand Marshals, including Phyllis Quigley, Joan O’Keefe, Joe Barron,
Jack Malloy, Joe Johnston, and the York High Alumni Band, who will join in
the celebration of the quarter-century mark. (1986 Grand Marshal Tommy
McDonald, who played for the Philadelphia Eagles, and ironically wore #25,
declined the invitation to participate this year, but graciously donated
several autographed photos for use at a parade auction fundraiser.)
Among the many participating bands will be
the Irish American String Band, who will also entertain the crowds
immediately following the parade with a performance at Continental Square.
Prior to the parade, there will be Irish dance performances, musical
entertainment, and children’s activities at several locations, in addition
to a variety of downtown merchant promotions.
Master of Ceremonies duties will be shared
by Dennis Owens and Kristen Thorne of abc27 WHTM. As a community service,
White Rose Community Television Channel 18 will televise the parade live.
The parade is organized by the York St.
Patrick’s Day Parade Committee, Inc., an all-volunteer, not-for-profit
organization. This is the tenth year the group has organized the parade,
which has grown dramatically since the City of York relinquished
responsibility of the event.
Two upcoming fundraisers at Harp & Fiddle
Irish Pub will benefit the parade:
Go Green Sunday, on February 24, will
feature live music and silent auctions throughout the day. Performing will
be Irish Blessing, Magill, Nua, and Rossnareen. Doors open at 12 noon,
music and auctions will run from 2 to 8 p.m.
Barleyjuice will perform in The Abbey at
Harp & Fiddle, on February 29, from 8-11 p.m., with a $10 cover charge.
There will be prizes and giveaways, and raffles to benefit the parade.
Complete details on the parade and all
related events will be updated on www.YorkSaintPatricksDayParade.org on a
regular basis as the parade date nears. A parade route map, which shows
nearby parking options, is also available for downloading.
For more information, visit
www.YorkSaintPatricksDayParade.org or call (717) 578-0146.
