Tens of thousands of visitors are expected in Armagh tomorrow for what is being billed as the biggest ever St Patrick’s Day carnival procession ever seen in the city.
The procession itself, part of a whole festival of events for St Patrick, will have more than 1000 participants.
And throw in an open air concert at Market Street and a family fun afternoon in the Shambles Yard, and it’s got all the ingredients for a fantastic day out for all the family.
Crowds are expected to arrive early to get the best vantage points and the parade itself is due to set off at 1pm.
There is something for everyone at Armagh City’s largest-ever St Patrick’s Day Festival in 2015. Local festival fans John and Alex Stinson (pictured) are looking forward to five full days of music, entertainment and fun for all ages including ‘The Storytellin’ Man and the Songstress’ at Armagh’s iconic public library, and the giant interactive storyboard which will allow the expected 20,000 visitors to learn everything there is to know about Ireland’s patron saint. Running from Thursday 12th – Tuesday 17th March, see the full programme schedule at www.armagh.co.uk/saintpatrick.
It will leave from the Palace Demesne and make its way through the city centre and there will be a whole range of colours, street performers, bands and floats on show.
Popular with kids of all ages this year will be the characters from the hit movie Frozen.
Everything from circus acts to Bollywood dancers, dogs dressed as superheroes to American style cheer leaders, Armagh will have it all.
Throw in a samba band and a hot air balloon courtesy of the Inishowen Carnival Group and it’ll be hard to take it all in.
The procession itself is expected to last until 4pm and the fantastic More Power to Your Elbow will be on stage at Market Street, belting out the best of Celtic folk and rock, with the fabulous Ray Dunne Band supporting.
At the Shambles Yard during the day, there will be a family fun afternoon, again with much to see and do and plenty of family-friendly entertainment and local talent taking to the stage.
A craft corner and cultural dancing, storytelling and the ever popular food stalls in abundance, are just some of the reasons why it’s worth venturing down…
All in all, it should be a fun day out for all the family and a warm welcome awaits.
Later in the evening, the Cormeen Rising Sons of William Flute Band will be hosting their now annual band parade in Armagh.
Traffic disruption can be expected during the day as both parades take place.
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