St Patrick’s Day Spring Carnival welcomes ‘All Kinds of Everything!’

DETAILS of the 2013 St Patrick’s Day Spring Carnival in Derry-Londonderry have been announced outlining a programme steeped in LegenDerry fun, history, culture and tradition; and where All Kinds of Everything will be brought together for a family friendly and inclusive event to celebrate the 17th March.

The St Patrick’s Day Spring Carnival has become one of the largest festival’s in the City’s event calendar bringing thousands of people to the city centre to view the spectacular colour and vibrancy of the community Carnival parade. With this year’s celebrations taking place over the weekend of Saturday 16th and Sunday 17th March it is an opportunity for the city to extend a warm welcome home to its diaspora and join them by taking to the streets to soak up the unique atmosphere that will be created.

This year’s Carnival parade is set to bring together a mixture of new and seasoned community group performances, carnival groups, tradition and contemporary dance groups and pipe bands along the 2km route.

The programme has been further enhanced with street theatre, music, crafts, drama, dancing, storytelling, discussion and debate so there is something for everyone to enjoy over the weekend’s celebrations.

Also incorporated within the programme are details of events taking place throughout the city to celebrate Irish Language Week 2013 and in particular Lá na Gaeilge (Irish Language Day) which is a celebration of Irish language and culture to mark the end of Irish Language Week 2013. Events will include an outdoor céilí, traditional Irish music sessions, performances by children from our local Gaelscoileanna, an Irish language information point and arts & crafts activities for families.

This year’s Carnival Parade will commence on its usual route leaving Derry City Council Car Park at 2pm travelling towards the city where displays from Celtic and greek mythology will blend with the rythms and colours of Africa, India and South America to create a high octane and colourful pulsating start to the Carnival. Then the City’s life long association with water will be celebrated with its display of Underwater Magic featuring mermaids, sea creatures and other aquatic surprises. As the carnival progresses participants travel back in time to the 70’s and the Undertones Punk Rock the Boat section which will then blend seamlessly to the Sky Journey where the weathermakers, exotic birds and flying machines will swoop and soar to complete the parade in a spectacular finale.

Visitors and locals can browse the Walled City Market in Guildhall Square on the 16th & 17th and experience the ultimate specialty retailing experience right in the heart of the city featuring a mouth watering array of foods plus a delightful display of arts, crafts, unique gifts and much more. This will be all set to the sights and sounds of local traditional music as Comhaltas Dhoire host a programme of toe tapping jigs and reels. Sontas will bring the event to a close with their with their unique and exciting sound fusing Irish and Scottish music through contemporary playing styles and arrangements.

Over the weekend street theatre will be present throughout and creating an energetic buzz around the city centre and Ebrington Barracks. A kid’s carnival, iconic photographic Portrait of the City film material looped live from the Live Screen at Waterloo place and entertainment trail will also be incorporated in the programme which includes as always the events of Seachtain na Gaeilge (Irish Language Week).

The programme is now available at venues across the city and online through the official website www.derrycity.gov.uk/stpatricksday.

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