SYDNEY ST PATRICK'S DAY COMMITTEE
Sydney turns green on Sunday the 18th of March for the 2012 Sydney St Patrick's Day Parade & Family Day
In Australia, St Patrick’s Day celebrations have taken place on 17 March since 1810, when the then Governor, Lachlan Macquarie, declared the date an official day of celebration for the Irish and those of Irish heritage. 200 years later, we are still celebrating with an annual street parade and family day on the third Sunday of March – next year on Sunday 18th March 2012. The Sydney St Patrick’s Day Parade is the second largest in the world, after the New York celebrations.
The Parade commences with pre-parade entertainment in front of Town Hall on George St from 10.30am to midday, to keep early crowds entertained.
The parade commences at midday and consisting of floats, marching bands and walking groups, starting at the corner of Town Hall on George Street and Bathurst Street continuing to Park St and around Elizabeth St, ending at Hyde Park near St James Station.
The festivities continue at the Family Day at Hyde Park, from 1.00pm until 6.30pm. There will be two stages with Irish music and dancing, Irish food stalls to sample the best of the nation’s cuisine, children’s areas and of course, a the bar will stock Guinness to toast St Patrick himself!
There will be a designated children’s area where families with young children can relax. Children can also enjoy face painting, bouncy castles, clowns, animal rides and music performances.
2012 will see Australian residents of all nationalities become Australian citizens in the annual citizenship ceremony held at Hyde Park. Many Irish people choose to take part in the citizenship ceremony at the Sydney St Patrick’s Day Parade & Family Day as a way of recognising that although they are becoming Australian citizens, their Irish background will always be close to their hearts. The Citizenship Ceremony commences at 2pm, then at 3pm the Citizenship ceremony ends and the area is turned into a second stage with more traditional and modern music and singing.
For more information, quotes from President Catherine Crosse or photographs from past events, please contact:
Una O'Neill
Marketing Manager
Sydney St Patrick’s Day Parade and Family Day
Email: media@stpatricksday.org.au
Tel: 0433 923 464
About Sydney St Patrick’s Day Parade and Family Day Org
The Sydney St Patrick’s Day Parade is organised by a group of volunteers from the Irish-Australian community. As a non-profit organisation, financial support is key to the continuing success of the Sydney St Patrick’s Day celebrations through fundraising throughout the year and the ever-popular Irish Bachelor of the Year event.
Fundraising events on the lead up to the Parade and Family Day
- This year we will be running the BIG raffle. The 500 Club. 1st December, 2011 the Committee will be selling only 500 raffle tickets, with the grand prize of two return tickets to Ireland. Full details will be on the website – www.stpatricksday.org.au from 1st December and is strictly on a first come, first served basis. Alternatively you may call Robert Brouder on 0430 449 350 to purchase tickets. The winning ticket will be drawn on the mainstage at the Family Day in Hyde Park, on Sunday 18th March 2012. Tickets will be $50 each.