THE annual St Patrick’s Day Parade will be a “rip-roaring” celebration.
Marking its 10th anniversary in Huddersfield, the event will include 10 bands, 10 decoratively themed floats and 10 street artistes.
The festival starts with the Parade Eve Concert at the Irish Centre on Fitzwilliam Street at 8.30pm on March 13.
It features four-times All Ireland cèilì champions from Rahan and the leading act at the annual Rose of Tralee pageant, The Saint John’s Pipe and Drum band.
Then the following day, Sunday March 14, the pre-parade festivities begin across the town at noon.
At 12.30pm three 10ft “snakes” created by students from the Huddersfield University and Lawrence Batley Theatre will make their way through town, from the theatre to the Irish Centre, where they will be charmed by St Patrick.
The convoy then rolls down the road at 1pm and will pause at St George’s Square as the Town crier, Vic Watson introduces the Mayor, Clr Julie Stewart-Turner to four year old Eoin Jefferson and his mother, Sinead, representing the Irish community.
They will then walk with the procession to Market Place where Eoin will present the Mayor with shamrock.
Organiser John Mcloughlin said: “This is probably the most exciting event we’ve planned.
“It’s a huge undertaking and the longest parade we’ve tried but we’ll be working up to the last minute.”
The scale of the event has grown and grown since its inception in 2000.
In 2009 the parade committee scooped the Examiner’s award for community event of the year.
Costing on average £18,000 per event the team work throughout the year to secure the services of bands and artists for the entertainment.
Grants were also awarded by the Irish Government, Grassroots Funding and Safer Stronger Communities of Kirklees.
