Charlotte, North Carolina has one of the country’s biggest St. Patrick’s Day parades. It’s a fabulous, family-friendly start to a weekend of festivities celebrating Irish heritage, culture and all things green. If you are not a parade fan, don’t worry – there’s plenty for you and your children to enjoy. Even if you aren’t Irish, there’s fun to be had.
St. Patrick’s Day On Main – Rock Hill
Main Street Old Town
Rock Hill, SC 29732
(803) 329-8756
Date: March 17, 2014 10 a.m.
Just a few minutes drive from Charlotte is Rock Hill, South Carolina. Its annual St. Patrick’s Day On Main festival is held in its Old Town to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day and Irish culture. Federal Clan Kings & The Thistledown Tinkers will be performing live for the crowd. In addition, there will be a bagpiper, Irish dancers and plenty of vendors selling Irish and Celtic items. There’s an amusement area for children along with an abundance of food and beverage booths. Stop by and celebrate.
18th Annual Charlotte St. Patrick’s Day Parade
Tryon St. and 9th St.
Charlotte, NC 28202
(803) 802-1678
Date: March 15, 2014 11 a.m.
Bagpipes, kilts, flags and floats – add in a handful of Irish dancers and tons of spectators and you have the recipe for a one-of-a-kind celebration. As many as 70,000 people have lined the streets of Uptown so they could catch a glimpse at Charlotte’s amazing tribute to Irish culture. Get there early so you and your children can stake out the perfect viewing spot.
Charlotte Goes Green
S. Tryon St. between 3rd St. and Stonewall St.
Charlotte, NC 28202
(803) 802-1678
Date: March 15, 2014 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
This free festival suitable for kids and adults turns Uptown into an Irish experience. There’s the Celtic Kids Zone that offers all sorts of child-based activities, a stage where Irish dancers and musicians including Federal Clan Kings & Lissakeole will perform, bagpipers and plenty of Irish and Celtic heritage on display. If shopping is your pleasure, there are vendors selling Irish- and Celtic-related items. And, as no festival is ever complete without food options, there will be both the usual festival foods and Irish-specific food and beverage choices.
Source: www.cbslocal.com; March 7, 2014.