Celebrate a Great Fort Lauderdale Tradition! The St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Festival on March 12
City of Fort Lauderdale, Florida - Venice of America
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Celebrate a Great Fort Lauderdale Tradition! The St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Festival on March 12

Event to Salute City’s Centennial and Feature Floats, Music & Entertainment

Angela Sabina DiPietro, Public Information Specialist
(954) 828-4777 or angelas@fortlauderdale.gov

Fort Lauderdale – Get ready to paint the town green! The Fort Lauderdale St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Festival marches into downtown on Saturday, March 12, 2011 to celebrate the City’s Centennial and all things Irish!

Last year, after a nearly 20-year hiatus, the return of the St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Festival was an overwhelming success! The free event drew thousands of spectators to the streets of downtown Fort Lauderdale for a one-of-a-kind celebration of Irish heritage.

This year’s Centennial version of the event promises to be bigger and better than ever! The pageantry and excitement will begin with a traditional Irish blessing at 11:30 a.m. at Huizenga Plaza (corner of Las Olas Boulevard and Andrews Avenue) followed by a team of para-commandos who will parachute into the park to officially kick off the festivities.

The free St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Festival will feature decorative floats, live music and entertainment, a kids zone, exhibitors, games and contests, and Irish food and beverages.

Parade Highlights – Saturday, March 12 – Noon
Along Las Olas Boulevard from S.E. 8th Avenue to Huizenga Plaza
The Fort Lauderdale St. Patrick’s Day Parade will begin at noon and travel west along Las Olas Boulevard from S.E. 8th Avenue to Huizenga Plaza (corner of Las Olas Boulevard and Andrews Avenue). Philanthropist Wini Amaturo of the Amaturo Family Foundation will serve as Grand Marshal. Radio personality Mindy Lang, from Majic 102.7, will serve as the Parade Emcee.

The parade will begin with a dramatic flyover by a United States Coast Guard helicopter. Highlights will include decorative floats, pipe and drum bands, classic automobiles, bagpipers, stilt walkers, high school marching bands, sports leagues, scouts, street performers, Irish dancers, the Miami Dolphins, the Fort Lauderdale Strikers, veteran groups, and elected officials. In honor of Fort Lauderdale’s 100th Birthday, the parade will also feature a specially decorated Centennial float to mark the City’s historic milestone.

Festival Highlights – Saturday, March 12 – 1:30 - 9:00 p.m.
Huizenga Plaza (Las Olas Boulevard and Andrews Avenue)
The Fort Lauderdale St. Patrick’s Day Festival will take place at Huizenga Plaza (corner of Las Olas Boulevard and Andrews Avenue) and along the Riverwalk immediately following the parade from 1:30 to 9:00 p.m.

The Festival will showcase live music, Irish dancers, aerial and fire acts, jugglers, stilt walkers, leprechauns, exhibitors, and Irish food and beverages. Entertainer Renee Adams will bring her non-stop energy and action-packed excitement to the stage to keep the audience rocking throughout the event.

Live performances will take place on stages at Huizenga Plaza and Las Olas Riverfront. Featured artists will include: UZoo, the ultimate U2 Tribute Band; traditional Irish Band Tucan; Dan O’Brien and Against the Tracks; Paraic Keane, Echoes of Erin and Joe Doughtry.

The festival will also include an expanded Kids Zone featuring bounce houses, a train, face painting, a petting zoo, pony rides, balloon artists, interactive games and much more!

Entertainment Schedule

11:30 a.m. - Irish Blessing - Huizenga Plaza
11:45 a.m. - Para-Commandos - Huizenga Plaza
12:00 – 1:30 p.m. - Parade - Las Olas Boulevard
1:30 p.m. - Festival Begins - Huizenga Plaza
1:30 – 2:30 p.m. - UZoo (U2 Tribute Band) - Huizenga Plaza
1:30 – 2:30 p.m. - Paraic Keane - Riverwalk Gazebo
2:30 – 3:00 p.m. - Irish Dance Troupe/Renee Adams - Huizenga Plaza
2:30 – 3:30 p.m. - Dan O’Brien and Against the Tracks - Riverwalk Gazebo
3:00 – 3:45 p.m. - Tucan (Irish Band) - Huizenga Plaza
3:30 – 4:30 p.m. - Paraic Keane - Riverwalk Gazebo
3:45 – 4:15 p.m. - Aerial Act/Renee Adams - Huizenga Plaza
4:15 – 5:15 p.m. - Echoes of Erin - Huizenga Plaza
4:30 – 5:30 p.m. - Joe Doughtry - Riverwalk Gazebo
5:15 – 5:45 p.m. - Aerial Act/Renee Adams - Huizenga Plaza
5:45 – 6:45 p.m. - Dan O’Brien and Against the Tracks - Huizenga Plaza
6:45 – 7:15 p.m. - Fire Act/Renee Adams - Huizenga Plaza
7:15 – 9:00 p.m. - UZoo (U2 Tribute Band) - Huizenga Plaza

Schedule is subject to change.

Parking
On Saturday, March 12, from 7 a.m. to midnight, parking is available at the City Park Garage, 155 S.E. 2nd Street, for a flat rate of $5.

From 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., parking is available for a $5 flat rate at:

  • Bank of America lot, 212 S.E. 2nd Avenue
  • One River Plaza, 305 South Andrews
  • 200 Brickell Centre, 200 Brickell Avenue
  • Las Olas Centre, 350 E. Las Olas Boulevard
  • Las Olas Centre, 450 E. Las Olas Boulevard
  • Broward County Garage, 151 S.W. 2nd Street
  • Plaza at Las Olas/Las Olas Place, 300 S.E. 2nd Street
  • 401 E. Las Olas Blvd (Bank of America Building - Entrance is on S.E. 2nd St.)
  • City Lot, S.E. 9th Avenue and S.E. 2nd Court
  • City Lot, S.E. 4th Street and S.E. 9th Avenue
  • City Lot, S.E. 13th Avenue and S.E. 2nd Court
  • City Lot, S.E. 15th Avenue and S.E. 2nd Court

The Fort Lauderdale St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Festival, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) Non-Profit organization. The event is co-sponsored by the City of Fort Lauderdale, Downtown Development Authority, Sun-Sentinel, Majic 102.7, Ireland’s Inn, YOLO, Ace Waste Services, AutoNation, Riverwalk Trust, Nova Southeastern University, Briny Riverfront, Guinness, Magners, Broward Health, Green, Murphy & Murphy, Botek Thurlow Engineering, Waxy O’Connors, Riverfront Cruises/Anticipation Yachts, Maguires Hill 16, FPL, McSorely’s, Hugh’s Culinary and Mangos.

For more information about the Fort Lauderdale St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Festival, please call the event hotline at (954) 828-5985 or visit the event website at www.ftlaudirishfest.com.