The Allentown St. Patrick’s Parade will be held March 22, 2015 and will depart the Allentown Fairgrounds at 1:30 pm.
March10, 2015 (Allentown, PA) The Allentown St. Patrick’s Parade Committee, Inc. announced today the schedule of events surrounding the 58th Allentown St. Patrick’s Parade. The Parade will be held March 22, 2015, departing from the Allentown Fairgrounds at 1:30 pm.
Food Drive to benefit Second Harvest Food Bank of the Lehigh Valley
The Parade is hosting a food drive to benefit Second Harvest Food Bank of the Lehigh Valley. The Parade is partnering with several local businesses and the Minsi Trails Council to help collect food the day of the Parade. The Cub Scouts will be walking in the Parade collecting donations from spectators. The Food Donations will also be taken at the Coronation Celebration, the Irish Cultural Community Day being held March 20 and 21 respectively at Allentown Fairgrounds. Saturday, March 14 Parade volunteers will be distributing food drive bags throughout the West End of Allentown. The Parade is asking all spectators of the parade to bring a nonperishable food item to donate.
Parade Pub Crawl – March 14, 2015
The Parade Pub Crawl, initiated in 2008, will take place on Saturday, March 14, 2015 throughout the West End of Allentown. Proceeds for the Pub Crawl benefit the Allentown St. Patrick’s Parade to pay for marching units and bands. There are nine sponsoring pubs; Jack Callaghan’s Ale House, Tavern on Liberty Street, Ringer’s Roost, Stooge’s Bar & Grille, Volpe’s, Shanty on 19th, Roosevelt’s 21st, Fairgrounds Hotel, and Greg’s West End Saloon.
Registration is held at each sponsoring pub and starts at 5:30 pm. The pub crawl begins promptly at 6:30 pm. Registration is $15 per person and includes an official Parade t-shirt.
Best Legs in a Kilt Contest presented by Jack Callaghan’s Ale House
Jack Callaghan’s Ale House is presenting the Best Legs in a Kilt Contest to be held March 14, 2015 prior to the start of the 2015 Allentown St. Patrick’s Parade Pub crawl. Registration is free and can be completed at Callaghan’s up until 5:00 pm March 14, 2015. There will be prizes awarded for the winner of the men’s and women’s division.
The Contest is being hosted by Daniel A. Buglio and features guest judges:
Dan Marano, Co-Chair of the Parade Pub Crawl,
Dan Eck, Callaghan’s favorite and Parade volunteer,
Angela Faidley, Owner of Out of Our Minds Art Studio and Parade Poster Contest Committee Chair
Mary Ward, Past Queen of the Allentown St. Patrick’s Parade
Kim Findlan, Associate with HiJinx Brewing Company
The Contest will be held at 5:30 pm at Jack Callaghan’s Ale House with the winner being crowned before the start of the Pub Crawl. Registration must be made at Jack Callaghan’s Ale House. Jack Callaghan’s Ale House is located at 2027 Tilghman Street, Allentown, PA 18104 For more information about Jack Callaghan’s Ale House or the Best Legs in a Kilt Contest, please contact Jennifer Eck at 610.462.3730 or email Jennifer.m.eck@gmail.com.
City of Allentown Flag Raising – March 17, 2015
On Tuesday, March 17, 2015 the flag of the Republic of Ireland will be raised at City Hall Plaza, Allentown at 11:45 am. The flag raising event is to commemorate the contributions of those of Irish heritage who helped to form and grow Allentown and the greater Allentown area. A pipe salute and brief remarks by John A. Chaya, President of the Allentown St. Patrick’s Parade Committee, Inc. and the Honorable Edward Pawlowski, Mayor of the City of Allentown will mark the occasion. City hall is located at 435 Hamilton Street, Allentown.
Coronation Celebration – March 20, 2015
Greg and Roey Ebert will be crowned the 2015 King and Queen of the Allentown St. Patrick’s Parade at the Coronation Celebration to be held March 20 at the Agricultural Hall annex at the Allentown Fairgrounds. A dinner will be held at 6:00 PM prior to the Coronation Celebration. Dinner tickets are $15 per person and must be purchased in advance at www.allentownstpatricksdayparade.com or emailing stpatstickets@aol.com. Children 12 and under are $5. No dinner tickets will be available at the door. Dinner tickets must be purchased by March 12.
The Coronation Celebration begins with doors opening at 7:30 and the Coronation taking place at 9 pm. Tickets are $15 in advance and $18 at the door and include a copy of the 2015 St. Patrick’s Parade Program Book, complimentary beverages (beer and soda) and a door prize ticket. There is no cost for anyone under 21. The event is BYOB and there is no cash bar. Joseph Mascari, former King of the Allentown St. Patrick’s Parade will serve as Master of Ceremonies. Fisher & Maher, a favorite Irish duo will be playing their favorite music. Allentown Fairgrounds/Agricultural Hall Annex is located at 19th and Liberty Streets, Allentown, PA 18104. For tickets to the Coronation Celebration call 610.443.0429, email stpatstickets@aol.com or go to www.alletownstpatricksdayparade.com.
2nd Annual Irish Cultural Community Day – March 21, 2015
The 2nd Annual Irish Cultural Community Day will be held Saturday, March 21, 2015 from noon to 5:00 pm at the Allentown Fairgrounds/Agricultural Hall Annex. The Community Day is presented by the Allentown St. Patrick’s Parade Committee, Inc. and is sponsored by the West End Alliance as a contribution to the community to highlight the Irish culture in dance, song, art, music, and theater. The Community Day is a free event and features demonstrations in Irish dance, hurling, theatre, Art, bagpipe, fiddle, and ceili, and all will have children and audience participation. Bethlehem merchant Donegal Square will be onsite, the Allentown Hibernians Hurling Team will be giving instruction, a demonstration by the O’Grady Quinlan School of Irish Dance is featured, face painting, a mural by Out of Our Minds Art Studio, and children’ crafts are all part of the day. For more information go to www.allentownstpatricksdayparade.com.
St. Patrick’s Mass – March 22, 2015
A mass to celebrate St. Patrick will be held Sunday, March 22, 2015 at Immaculate Conception Church celebrated by the Most Reverend John O. Barres, Bishop of Allentown. The mass will feature a procession that includes James Ruhf, Pipe Major for the City of Bethlehem Pipe Band, former Parade Kings and Queens, and the 2015 King and Queen. Immaculate Conception Church is located at 501 Ridge Avenue, Allentown PA 18102.
Parade Breakfast – March 22, 2015
The annual Parade Breakfast will be held at the Allentown Fairgrounds/Agricultural Hall Annex on March 22, 2015 from 10 am to noon. Tickets are $10 and must be purchased in advance, no day of event tickets will be sold. Proceeds benefit the Allentown St. Patrick’s Parade. The Agricultural Hall Annex is located at 19th and Liberty Streets, Allentown, PA. To purchase tickets to the Breakfast go to www.allentownstpatricksdayparade.com.
West End 5K – March 22, 2015
The West End Alliance is sponsoring a 5K run on Sunday, March 22, 2015 along the Parade Route. Registration is TBD per person Start time is 12:30 m. The 5K will start and end at Muhlenberg College. Prizes awarded. Registration can be made online at www.westendstpats5k.com. Proceeds benefit the West End Alliance.
House Decorating/Porch Party Contest – March 22, 2015
The 2015 Allentown St. Patrick’s Parade Committee designed a house decorating/porch party contest to be judge by an independent person chosen by the Parade committee. Prizes will be awarded to the “best porch party” and “best decorated house” along the Parade route. The Parade route will form at the Fairgrounds track near the Liberty and 17th Streets gate ( Main Gate vicinity) The Parade will proceed West on Liberty, turn North on 19th Street, Wets on Tilghman to 25th Street, South on 25th Street to Liberty Street then East on Liberty Street and disband a the Fairgrounds 19th Street gate. All homes along the Parade route are encouraged to participate. Prizes will be awarded immediately upon conclusion of the Parade.
Massed Bands Exhibition – March 22, 2015
Massed Bands exhibition will take place immediately before the Parade at 1:00 PM on North 19th Street between Tilghman and Liberty Streets. All 10 pipe bands will perform in unison under the direction of Drum Major Jason Litz. After the Parade the pipe bands will proceed to a Pub Crawl Sponsoring pub to perform additional tunes.
The Allentown St. Patrick’s Parade committee was sad to learn of the tragic loss of two young members the Washington Memorial Pipe Band, one of our longest participating bands. Charlotte and Miles Hannagan of Downingtown, PA, lost their lives in a tragic auto accident on February 14, 2015. Charlotte and Miles were both drummers for Washington Memorial, joining their father Paul who is a Piper with the band. Charlotte and Miles are survived by their parents Paul and Maggie. The parade committee would like to extend our prayers and condolences to the Hannagan family as well as the members of the Washington Memorial Pipe Band who perform with heavy hearts.
In a tribute to Charlotte and Miles this year’s Massed Pipes and Drums exhibition is being performed in remembrance of them. Massed Pipes and Drums will pay tribute to the greatness of their lives and embrace their memories in the activity that they shared as a family.
The program will be as follows:
- The massed pipes and drums will enter 19th street from the intersection with Allen Street.
- The first wave will countermarch and halt at the return to intersection of Allen Street.
- The second wave will then march down, countermarch and return to intersection of Allen Street.
- At this time Senior Drum Major Jason Litz will salute the Washington Memorial Pipe Band to grant them permission to proceed.
- The Washington Memorial Pipe Band will play two tunes in remembrance to Miles and Charlotte as they circle up in the center of the Allen Street intersection.
- After the band has completed their set, Parade Chaplain Fr. Joseph Kweder will say a few words and offer prayers for Miles and Charlotte, the Hannagan family, as well as the members of the Washington Memorial Pipe Band.
- At the conclusion of prayer Pipe Majors Colin Drummond and Ken Sutherland will lead the Amazing Grace.
- As the rest the other pipe bands join in on the 2nd verse, the other bands’ drum corps will remain silent in honor of Miles and Charlotte. A single draped snare, customary in pipe band funerals/remembrance, will be played by a Washington Memorial member.
- On the last verse all pipers will cut out and Pipe Major Colin Drummond of Washington will complete the Amazing Grace as a lone piper.
- The Washington Memorial Pipe Band will fall back into ranks and the exhibition will continue as usual.
58th Allentown St. Patrick’s Parade – March 22, 2015
The 2015 Allentown St. Patrick’s Parade, now in its 58th year, will start its March at 1:30 pm on Sunday, March 22, 2015. The Parade route will form at the Fairgrounds track near the Liberty and 19th Streets gate (Main Gate vicinity). The Parade will proceed West on Liberty, turn North on 19th Street, West on Tilghman Street o t 25th Street, South on 25th Street to Liberty Street, then East on Liberty Street and disband at the Fairgrounds 19th Street gate. The Parade will include the 2015 King and Queen riding in a white coach drawn by a team of Belgium horses followed by eight Parade divisions each led by a pipe band. The Parade has 6 pipe bands and 16 floats featured and is the largest assembled. The 2015 pipe bands featured are as follows:
City of Bethlehem Bagpipe Band
Irish Thunder Pipe & Drum Band
Mackay Bagpipe Band
Celtic United Pipes & Drums
Washington Memorial Pipe Band
Hamilton Celtic Pipe Band
For information on the 2015 Allentown St. Patrick’s Parade contact Jennifer Eck at 610.462.3730 or email Jennifer.m.eck@gmail.com. For details on all Parade activities or to purchase individual event tickets go to www.allentownstpatricksdayparade.com.
About the Allentown St. Patrick’s Parade
The first known St. Patrick’s Parade was held in Allentown in the late 1860’s. Over a century later, in 1955, what we know as the modern day Allentown St. Patrick’s Parade was organized by business and political leaders through the St. Patrick’s Day Observance Society. The Parade marched down Hamilton Streets to the Immaculate Conception Church on Ridge Avenue. The Parade will celebrate its 58th Anniversary on March 22, 2015 departing from the Allentown Fairgrounds at 1:30 pm. For more information or to participate in the 2015 Allentown St. Patrick’s Parade go to www.allentownstpatricksdayparade.com.
Information Provided by:
Jennifer Eck
Jennifer Eck, LLC
Jennifer.m.eck@gmail.com
