Source: https://www.corkcity.ie/en/, media release provided by John M. Watkins, Jr., Director, UF Gator Band
Organized by Cork City Council, the Cork St. Patrick’s Festival will take place from March 16 -19, when the city will showcase the very best of Cork’s culture and tradition to celebrate our national day.
The St. Patrick’s Day Parade is a celebration of the international communities, sporting groups, voluntary groups, community groups, and dance schools that call Cork their home. Also expected are large colorful and fun floats from arts organizations Cork Community Artlink, Cork Puppetry Company, and renowned street art company Spraoí.
Joining Corkonians from the United States – for the first time since 2019 - will be marching bands from Florida and Aurora, near Denver in Colorado.
The University of Florida Gator Band is bringing 350 students to Cork for the Parade. A very prestigious college band, the Gators performed at the Opening Ceremony of the London Olympics, while the teenagers from Grandview High School in Colorado will be on their first international performance trip.
Friends and family at home can also view the parade via the livestream, which is viewable via the webpage for the parade. Messages of goodwill can be sent to the live stream by messaging the festival on social media www.facebook.com/corkstpatricksfestival and on Twitter @corkpaddysfest.
In the days leading up to the festival these Facebook and Twitter pages will also carry lots of information on the parade and other events over the festival weekend, while brochures will be available in Cork City Library branches, and around the city center.
The Cork St. Patrick’s Day Parade will occur on March 17 at 1 pm, on the familiar route from South Mall to Merchants Quay. The 2023 Festival will see Cork’s largest parade ever. The feast of color and pageantry will feature over 3,500 participants in 55 groups, with a theme of “A Century of Stories”.
Also on the agenda for the weekend are trad music performances from the Lee Sessions, art, theatre, live music, guided tours, an outdoor market, and workshops.
See www.corkstpatricksfestival.ie for further details of the Cork City St. Patrick’s Festival.