Mayor Seiler to Paint St. Patrick’s Day Parade Route at Kickoff Ceremony on March 11

Ceremony to Include Blessing of Street and Painting of Ceremonial Green Stripe Along Las Olas Boulevard

Chaz Adams, Sr. Public Information Specialist
(954) 828-4748 or chazadams@fortlauderdale.gov

Fort Lauderdale - Fort Lauderdale Mayor John P. “Jack” Seiler will renew a legendary St. Patrick’s Day tradition when he paints a green stripe on Las Olas Boulevard to ceremoniously mark the route for the upcoming St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

The ceremony will take place on Friday, March 11, 2011 at Noon in front of Huizenga Plaza, located at the corner of S. Andrews Avenue and E. Las Olas Boulevard. Please note: a one block portion of Las Olas Boulevard from S. Andrews Avenue to S.E. 1st Avenue will be temporary closed from 11:30 a.m. to the conclusion of the ceremony.

Highlights of the event will include remarks from Mayor Seiler and a Blessing of the Street by Reverend Jerry Singleton, Pastor of Saint Anthony Catholic Church.

The festivities will also include recognition of the Parade Grand Marshal, the St. Patrick’s Day Committee Chair, elected officials and VIPs. Special appearances will be made by Bagpiper Robert Ritchie and “Eric the Leprechaun.” The ceremony will culminate when Mayor Seiler takes to the street with paint roller in hand to lay down a green stripe on Las Olas Boulevard.

Public parking is available for a fee at the City Park Garage located at 155 S.E. 2nd Street or at One River Plaza located at 305 S. Andrews Avenue.

The Fort Lauderdale St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Festival marches into downtown on Saturday, March 12, 2011 to celebrate the City’s Centennial and all things Irish!

The pageantry and excitement will begin with a traditional Irish blessing at 11:30 a.m. at Huizenga Plaza (corner of Las Olas Boulevard and Andrews Avenue). The United States Special Operations Command Parachute Team will then perform a precision freefall parachute demonstration by skydiving from 12,500 feet into the park to officially kick-off the event.

The St. Patrick’s Day Parade will begin at noon with a dramatic flyover by a United States Coast Guard helicopter. It will proceed west along Las Olas Boulevard from S.E. 8th Avenue to Huizenga Plaza. Philanthropist Wini Amaturo of the Amaturo Family Foundation will serve as Grand Marshal and radio personality Mindy Lang, from Majic 102.7, will serve as the Parade Emcee.

Highlights will include decorative floats, pipe and drum bands, classic automobiles, bagpipers, stilt walkers, high school marching bands, sports leagues, scouts, street performers, Irish dancers, the Miami Dolphins, the Fort Lauderdale Strikers, veteran groups, and elected officials. The parade will also feature a special Centennial Float, featuring a four-tier birthday cake, to mark the City’s 100th Birthday.

The St. Patrick’s Day Festival will take place at Huizenga Plaza and along downtown’s Riverwalk immediately following the parade from 1:30 – 9:00 p.m. The Festival will showcase live music, Irish dancers, aerial and fire acts, jugglers, stilt walkers, leprechauns, exhibitors, and Irish food and beverages. Entertainer Renee Adams will bring her non-stop energy and action-packed excitement to the stage to keep the audience rocking throughout the event.

Live performances will take place on stages at Huizenga Plaza and Las Olas Riverfront. Featured artists will include: UZoo, the ultimate U2 Tribute Band; traditional Irish Band Tucan; Dan O’Brien and Against the Tracks; Paraic Keane, Echoes of Erin and Joe Doughtry.

The festival will also include an expanded Kids Zone featuring bounce houses, a train, face painting, a petting zoo, pony rides, balloon artists, interactive games and much more!

For more information about the Fort Lauderdale St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Festival, please call the event hotline at (954) 828-5985 or visit the event website at www.ftlaudirishfest.com.