Come
be a part of a Roanoke tradition
and one of the Mid-Atlantic region's largest
St. Patrick's Day Celebrations. This year's
parade will continue to honor our local police,
fire, veterans, and EMS, in other words, "those
who protect and serve."
Companies,
organizations, clubs, individuals, and families
are all invited to be a part of the parade!
Floats are ALWAYS encouraged. Be as festive
of an "Irishman" as possible - you
might just win a trophy!
Ronald will lead the parade!
Check back for more information on
Pipe and Drum Bands that will be marching in
the 2012 McDonald's St. Patrick's Day Parade.
Here's a hint for maximum Pipe Band enjoyment - in addition to all the pipe bands marching and performing in the parade, the Jamestown Pipe Band will perform at the Celtic Festival as well – see the performance schedule below.
The
Jamestown Pipe Band has a mission! That mission
is to promote Scottish heritage and Highland
music both bag piping and Highland drumming.
They do so by teaching, competing and performing
throughout the south east. Jamestown Pipes
and Drums strive to be a fun and exciting band
that everyone will enjoy.
The Virginia Highlands Pipes and Drums, based in the Roanoke Valley, were formed in 1983 with three pipers and one drummer. By 1986 the band had grown to eight pipers and four drummers. Those early band members’ occupations included a telephone engineer, a railroad pricing specialist, a paving contractor, two college professors, an electronics-steel engineer, a church minister of music, a college student, two high school students a television news anchor, and a retired physician. That retired Roanoke physician, Dr. John L. Harris, Jr., has been given a great deal of credit for organizing the band, and served as the band’s first pipe major. Myron C. White, Jr., also of Roanoke, was the band’s first drum sergeant, and Kenneth Swisher the first pipe sergeant. Throughout the year the Virginia Highlands Pipes and Drum band has gained a well earned reputation playing at festivals, weddings and graduations. Their sound is as traditional as the MacFarlane tartan they proudly wear.
Warpipe is a relatively new, exciting, extremely entertaining Celtic Pipe Band based in Roanoke, Virginia. Led by champion piper Burt Mitchell, the band is growing rapidly, attracting some of the best pipers and drummers in Southwest Virginia. Warpipe is redefining "Pipe Band", offering unique and powerful pipe music accompanied by highly innovative and energetic drumming.
The Shenandoah Valley Pipe band was founded in early 2009 by pipe major Kathy Hawkins, several of her piping students, and a small group of drummers who had never before played the highland drums. In the short time since the founding, we have played a variety of festivals and parades and even won the best marching unit in the Staunton July 4th parade. We have since grown to include six pipers and six drummers. The band provides traditional Scottish and Irish pipe music to the Shenandoah Valley, an area rich with Scots-Irish culture and tradition.
Be sure to enjoy the Star City Ceilidh Band at the Judge’s Stand before the McDonald’s St. Pat’s Parade
The word "Ceilidh" translates into a traditional Gaelic social gathering, full of music, dancing, and good times. When Roanoke-based Star City Ceilidh Band gathers to play, you can expect all three, and more. Formed out of a common love of traditional Irish music, the band features Brandon Davis on Uilleann, Scottish small, and Highland pipes; Richard Harvey on fiddle; and Sam Hensley on guitar and vocals. From the fast-paced instrumental reels, to danceable jigs, to beautiful waltzes, and the occasional traditional ballad, the Star City Ceilidh Band will make you feel connected to the Irish motherland, as if you were drinking a pint of Guinness right in the heart of Dublin. From their home pub Flanary's to SoRo Chill and Grille (and points in between), this group mesmerizes audiences with their instrumental skill and charming human decency!
Tentative 2012 St. Pat's Celebration Entertainment Schedule
Friday March 16, 2012
8:00pm Celtic Crossroads "World Fusion Tour" Performance
Jefferson Center Shaftman Hall
Saturday, March 17, 2012
Time
Event
Location
10:00am
Festival Opens
Corner of Jefferson St. & Campbell Ave.
10:00am - 2:00pm
Inflatables, face painting and other activities
City Market Square
10:20am - 10:50am
Celtic Entertainment TBD
Parade Judge's Stand (corner of Jefferson St. & Franklin Rd. at SunTrust Bank)
11:00am
McDonald's St. Pat's Parade begins
Along Jefferson St. & Campbell Ave.
1:00pm - 1:15pm
Jamestown Pipe Band on Campbell Ave.
Celtic Festival
1:20pm - 2:00pm
Second Wynde (plus dancers including Hoorah Cloggers)
Celtic Festival stage
2:00pm - 2:25pm
Parade Awards; Grand Marshal & Ceili King Presentations
Celtic Festival stage
2:00pm - 3:00pm
Preliminary selection & judging of Bonniest Knees contestants
Next to Celtic Festival Stage
2:25pm - 3:30pm
Second Wynde (plus dancers including Hoorah Cloggers)
Celtic Festival Stage
3:30pm - 3:50pm
Bonniest Knees Contest Finals
Celtic Festival Stage
3:50pm - 5:00pm
Second Wynde (plus dancers including Hoorah Cloggers)
Celtic Festival Stage
(Times are subject to change)
Special Information for Parade Participants
Line-up
for the parade Line-up for the parade will begin at 9:00am.
Check-in will be at the corner of Albemarle Ave. and Jefferson Street.
Check-in & line up will be at the same location as years past:
on Jefferson St. at Albemarle & Walnut Ave. (just in front of the
Carilion Breast Center).
Shuttles, provided by Commonwealth
Coach & Trolley Museum, will run from the Williamson Road Parking
Garage to the line-up site; then, at the end of the
parade, the garage is just a short walk from the
disbursement site.
Please be sure to follow all instructions given
by your parade marshals. EventZone reserves the right
to not allow any organization whose unit is considered
inappropriate or unsafe. PLEASE NOTE: THROWING CANDY
AND OTHER ITEMS INTO THE CROWD IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED.
For
more information, contact us at (540) 342-2640.
The
Jamestown Pipe Band has a mission! That mission
is to promote Scottish heritage and Highland
music both bag piping and Highland drumming.
They do so by teaching, competing and performing
throughout the south east. Jamestown Pipes
and Drums strive to be a fun and exciting band
that everyone will enjoy.
The Virginia Highlands Pipes and Drums, based in the Roanoke Valley, were formed in 1983 with three pipers and one drummer. By 1986 the band had grown to eight pipers and four drummers. Those early band members’ occupations included a telephone engineer, a railroad pricing specialist, a paving contractor, two college professors, an electronics-steel engineer, a church minister of music, a college student, two high school students a television news anchor, and a retired physician. That retired Roanoke physician, Dr. John L. Harris, Jr., has been given a great deal of credit for organizing the band, and served as the band’s first pipe major. Myron C. White, Jr., also of Roanoke, was the band’s first drum sergeant, and Kenneth Swisher the first pipe sergeant. Throughout the year the Virginia Highlands Pipes and Drum band has gained a well earned reputation playing at festivals, weddings and graduations. Their sound is as traditional as the MacFarlane tartan they proudly wear. 
Warpipe is a relatively new, exciting, extremely entertaining Celtic Pipe Band based in Roanoke, Virginia. Led by champion piper Burt Mitchell, the band is growing rapidly, attracting some of the best pipers and drummers in Southwest Virginia. Warpipe is redefining "Pipe Band", offering unique and powerful pipe music accompanied by highly innovative and energetic drumming.
The Shenandoah Valley Pipe band was founded in early 2009 by pipe major Kathy Hawkins, several of her piping students, and a small group of drummers who had never before played the highland drums. In the short time since the founding, we have played a variety of festivals and parades and even won the best marching unit in the Staunton July 4th parade. We have since grown to include six pipers and six drummers. The band provides traditional Scottish and Irish pipe music to the Shenandoah Valley, an area rich with Scots-Irish culture and tradition. 
The word "Ceilidh" translates into a traditional Gaelic social gathering, full of music, dancing, and good times. When Roanoke-based Star City Ceilidh Band gathers to play, you can expect all three, and more. Formed out of a common love of traditional Irish music, the band features Brandon Davis on Uilleann, Scottish small, and Highland pipes; Richard Harvey on fiddle; and Sam Hensley on guitar and vocals. From the fast-paced instrumental reels, to danceable jigs, to beautiful waltzes, and the occasional traditional ballad, the Star City Ceilidh Band will make you feel connected to the Irish motherland, as if you were drinking a pint of Guinness right in the heart of Dublin. From their home pub Flanary's to SoRo Chill and Grille (and points in between), this group mesmerizes audiences with their instrumental skill and charming human decency! 
