The Irish Community in Baltimore is busy preparing for
the 54th Anniversary of the Baltimore St. Patrick Parade.
The Parade will take place on Sunday, March 14th, 2010. You don’t have to be
Irish to enjoy this Parade. As the largest Parade in Maryland and among the
larger and finest of St. Patrick Parades in the Nation, the parade provides
entertainment for all ages and backgrounds.
As the second largest port of entry for Irish immigration, Baltimore is
deeply rooted in its Irish ancestry. The Parade itself is organized by a
committee composed of eleven local Irish organizations. The all volunteer
Parade Committee works tirelessly throughout the year to raise money to
finance the parade. The Parade costs in excess of $90,000.00 to produce.
Contributions are raised throughout the year in a variety of ways: Pub
Fundraisers, the Parade Guide, the 5K Race and Sponsorships.
THE FACTS:
The Baltimore St. Patrick Parade www.irishparade.net
Sunday, March
14th, 2010 2PM from the Washington Monument South on Charles Street,
East on Pratt to President Street
About the Parade
- The Parade has been in continuous operation since 1856
and has celebrated Irish culture and honored Ireland's patron, St.
Patrick, to become a Baltimore institution.
- An all-volunteer committee comprised of 11 member Irish
organizations in the greater Baltimore area presents the Parade.
- The Parade attracts tens of thousands of spectators,
participants, and organizers to downtown Baltimore infusing over $1
million dollars into the local economy and $50,000.00 in tax revenue for
the city.
- The Parade represents the diversity of Baltimore's
Irish community and has come to represent the diversity of Baltimore
through the participation of non-Irish organizations.
- The Parade is preceded by the Shamrock 5K Run, which
attracted over 2,500 runners and has become the second largest 5K in
Maryland.
The organization and running of the annual St. Patrick
Parade in Baltimore City is a monumental task and we are glad you are
interested enough to visit.
The parade is not a city run event, rather the Parade is
organized and run by the member Irish Organizations in the greater Baltimore
and Annapolis areas. Together we raise the $92,000.00 it costs to have the
parade. This is an all volunteer effort!
The time and effort to organize and
pay for the Parade requires that the Parade Committee work throughout the
year to raise the necessary funds.
Financial support of our Parade is
always needed, and will be greatly appreciated ,but that doesn't mean we
necessarily want a donation from you! Just come out and support our events
which you will find advertised here - you'll have a lot of fun doing it.
Parade Facts
- The Parade has been in
continuous operation since 1856. For over 45 years the parade has
celebrated Irish culture and honored Ireland’s patron, St. Patrick and has
become a Baltimore institution.
- The Parade represents the
diversity of Baltimore’s Irish community and has come to represent the
diversity of Baltimore through the participation of non-Irish
organizations.
- The Parade attracts tens of
thousands of spectators, participants, and organizers to downtown
Baltimore infusing over thousands of dollars into the local economy every
year. Approximately 5% of those funds end up in the city treasury.
- The Parade Committee is an
all-volunteer organization comprised of 11 member Irish organizations in
the greater Baltimore area presents the Parade.
- The Parade is both a community
entertainment event and important economic asset in Baltimore city.
- The Parade is funded wholly
through the fund raising efforts of the Parade Committee.
- The event is free to all
spectators.
- Supporting the Baltimore St.
Patrick Day Parade is an investment in Baltimore’s small business
community and helps assure that the parade will be here year after year.
If you wish to contact me please do
so via email by clicking
here.
Thank you,
- David W. Keelan
- General Chairman
