HUDDERSFIELD'S biggest Irish event, the St Patrick's Day parade, takes place at the weekend.

It is Huddersfield's fifth such parade.

The celebrations will begin at 8.30pm on Saturday night at the Irish Centre in Fitzwilliam Street.

Two bands from Ireland - the Brosna Ceili Band, from County Offaly and the Millstreet Pipe Band from County Cork - will perform at a joint concert.

Sunday is the day of the parade itself, which usually attracts between 3,000 and 5,000 people.

Entertainment will begin at noon, with Irish dancing and pipers outside the Irish Centre and disco music outside St Patrick's Centre in Trinity Street.

There will be children's entertainment, including face painting and balloon modelling, plus a stall selling hats, caps, rosettes and other merchandise.

The parade will leave the Irish Centre at 1pm.

It will feature 10 floats, seven local groups and the two Irish bands.

Parade secretary John McLoughlin said: "Every year the number of local groups involved grow.

"This is great because the parade is for all the people of Huddersfield, as well as the Irish community.

"It's all systems go and we are ready for the big day. We hope people will turn out and have a good time."

The parade will make its way from Fitzwilliam Street, along John William Street, Cloth Hall Street and Market Street.

It will then proceed up Westgate and along Castlegate, before turning back to Market Street and heading along Railway Street and John William Street.

It then goes into Fitzwilliam Street to the Irish Centre.

The entertainment continues at the Irish Centre at 2.30pm, with music from Scarlet Heights. From 3pm, there will be Irish dancing at St Patrick's Centre.

From 4.30pm, Irish entertainer George will be at the Irish Centre.

He will be followed by Tony's family and children's disco at 6.30pm.

From 8pm, the Brosna Ceili Band and the Millstreet Pipe Band will perform.

From 9.30pm, Tony's disco will return for the rest of the night.

Parade visitors can park in the railway car park off Fitzwilliam Street.

St Patrick's Day is on March 17.

For further information, visit www.theparadeonline. org