Celebrate St Patrick’s Day in Newry with a Spectacular Festival

The cross-community carnival parade will be the centre of celebrations in Newry on Monday 17 March. Led by St Patrick himself, the parade will offer a feast for eyes and ears as swirling dancers, community floats and costumed characters entertain the crowds.

An array of immersive entertainment will also be on offer in a number of locations within the City Centre from 12pm-4pm, with on-street performances, cultural experiences and entertainment for all ages and interests. And as always, Newry Town Hall and key buildings across the district will be illuminated in green to mark the occasion.

Talking about this year’s celebrations, Newry, Mourne and Down District Council Chairperson, Councillor Pete Byrne said, “We are proud that this district is renowned for being the home of St Patrick and it is fitting that we celebrate his legacy in the heart of our City with show-stopping entertainment as the parades move through our streets. The programme of events assures visitors of an entertaining day out to enjoy with the family. I look forward to seeing you all there!”

The procession will depart from The Quays at 1pm, winding its way through the streets and finishing at The Mall. This year, the pace will be set by no fewer than four local marching bands accompanied by the exhilarating Samba rhythms of Brazil, the vibrant dance and drum tempos of India and an array of giant parade puppets, including an enormous wolfhound and towering snakes.

Beyond the parade, be sure to catch live music and dance performances and take part in the free family entertainment on Hill Street, McClelland Park, Margaret Square and Marqus Square.

The Ceili tent in Margaret Square will be packed full of fun with entertainment from the likes of traditional ceili-calling by Raymond Carroll accompanied by the Oisin McCann Ceilidh band. The Kilted Dance Company, partnered by Mark Wilson’s Ulster-Scots Band, will showcase an electrifying Ulster-Scots fusion dance performance and in the Kids’ Zone there will be facepainting, arts and crafts and even a climbing wall for those looking for adventure.

The fully pedestrianised Hill Street, lined with local street traders, will link onto Marcus Square where the main stage will feature an exciting lineup of music, including the lively Nooks, country sensation, Gavin Gribben, the up-and-coming trad band, Gaolta, and a performance from Warrenpoint Comhaltas. And let’s not forget the fun of the fair with rides from Dizzyland.

McClelland Park, just off Monaghan Street, will offer a quieter retreat for younger children, with mini crazy golf, puppet shows, games, dance sessions and additional arts and crafts activities and a climbing wall.

Wherever you wander on St Patrick’s Day you will find music. The Dixieland Casino Jazz band, The Crooked Lake Community Choir, the Yew Tree Ukes and the beautiful harp music of Sharon Carol will all be livening up the streets and shopping centres during the day.

For those that want to avoid the hustle and bustle on the streets, a stop at Newry & Mourne Museum will provide a calm, sensory space for families, including arts and crafts, music and sensory play sessions from Mini and Mind Explorers which must all be prebooked via email to: Declan.Carroll@nmandd.org.

Prior to the celebrations this year, the exciting fire performance, 'Fireside Stories' will take place on Saturday 15 March at the Albert Basin. The show will feature a dramatic, carefully choregraphed performance that combines fire-eating acrobatics, dance, theatre and storytelling to take people on a dark and funny journey into the world of the legend, Beowulf.

Newry, Mourne and Down District Council invites everyone to come and join the celebrations in honour of St Patrick in the heart of Newry.

For the latest updates and full event details, visit: www.visitmournemountains.co.uk/whats-on/st-patricks-day-parade-in-newry-city-p773311