2010 ST PATRICKS DAY PARADE & FAMILY DAY
Sunday, 21 March 2010
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.
The Sydney St Patrick’s Day Parade is the second largest in the world, after the New York celebrations.
The Parade commences at midday and starts 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 fun continues with the Family Day in Hyde Park, opening from 1pm to 7pm.
Our very own ‘St Patrick’ leads the Parade through the streets of Sydney. The title of ‘St Patrick’ has, over the years become a much-coveted role, each year members of the Irish Community in Sydney nominate a suitable representative to fulfil the role. Every year the Parade entrants and spectators fill the streets of Sydney all shades of green and of course those dedicated Gaelic Football fans wear their county colours with pride.
There is much competition among regular Parade float entrants win the annual Sydney St Patrick’s Day Parade & Family Day Float of the Year competition. Floats in the Parade are judged with the annual winner being announced and receiving a trophy at the Family Day in Hyde Park.
The Family Day will have something for everyone, from entertainment on the Main Stage from Irish musicians and dancers, to the colourful interactive Children’s Area. Food stands will serve Irish food and snacks and the beverage stands will cater for all tastes, from Irish tea to a good old glass of Guinness!
The Sydney St Patrick’s Day Parade & Family Day has a broad range of activities for the young and the young at heart. Irish festivities take over the surroundings of Sydney’s Hyde Park for a day, where spectators can enjoy a range of traditional and modern Irish music performed from the main stage. This year the crowds will enjoy Eleanor McEvoy as the headline act on the main-stage. McEvoy has been an international music sensation since her debut album in 1993 and the past year has seen this Irish songstress release her latest album ‘Love Must Be Tough’. Other acts on the day include Sydney’s musical favourites Blackwater and Achtung Baby – The Ultimate U2 Experience. Irish dancers and set dancers are an important part of the festivities with several performances through out the day showcasing the best of Irish culture.
There is a designated children’s area in Hyde Park, where families with young children can enjoy learning about Irish culture and music through story-telling and a Bodhran workshop. Children can also enjoy face painting, bouncy castles, clowns and performances by musicians.
This year will also see Australian residents 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.
In 2009 over 100,000 participated in Sydney St Patrick’s Day celebrations and that figure is expected to increase for the 2010 Sydney St Patrick’s Parade & Family Day.
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, Friends of St Patrick membership and the ever-popular Irish Bachelor of the Year event.
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