The one-day rain or shine event attracts more than 30,000 people annually.
The festival offers 150-plus food, arts and crafts, nonprofit, and other vendors.
The North Strand Optimist Club organizes the parade, and all entry fees go back into helping the youth of our community.
Alan Connie and Amber Campbell have been selected as Grand Marshals for the St. Patrick’s Day Parade. (Separate release will highlight their accomplishments.)
The St. Patrick’s Day Festival offers three entertainment stages. The current entertainment lineup is as follows:
Community Stage - Main Street & Oak Drive:
11:15 AM: Triple Toe Cloggers
11:45 AM: Parade Awards
12:15 PM: Conway Celtic Pipers
12:30 PM: Academy of Dance and Fine Arts
1:00 PM: Coastal Carolina Shields Pipe & Drums
1:15 PM: North Myrtle Beach School of Performing Arts
2:15 PM – 4:00: Caroline Dare Band
Main Stage - Near Flynn’s Irish Tavern:
11:00 AM: Band on the Rum
11:45 AM: Coastal Carolina Shields Pipes & Drums
12:00 PM: Band on the Rum
12:45 PM: Wake & District Public Safety Pipes & Drums
1:00 PM: Barleyjuice
2:15 PM: Leprechaun Contest
2:30 PM: Shepard’s Pie Eating Contest
2:45 PM: Barleyjuice
Green Stage - Near Duffy’s Seafood Shack
11:00: Miracle Max and the Pet Monsters
1:45 PM – 4:00 PM: Bantum Rooster
Two contests are also part of this year’s festival:
29th Annual St. Patrick's Day Parade & Festival Leprechaun Contest
Show off your love of all things Irish by competing in the 29th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade & Festival Leprechaun Contest. Entries will be judged on originality, creativity, appearance, enthusiasm and energy. Participants must be 18 years or older, must register, must be dressed in a leprechaun/Irish-themed costume, and must grant permission to the City of North Myrtle Beach to publish photos for promotion and sign a release of liability. The contest is open to the general public and no purchase is necessary to participate.
Contestants must register at the Main Stage at Flynn's Irish Tavern before 2:00 p.m. Preregistration is also available at the Festival Information Booth (corner of Hillside Drive and Main Street) before 1:30 p.m. Meet at the stairs of the Main Stage at 2:00 p.m. Contest begins at 2:15 p.m.
29th Annual St. Patrick's Day Shepherd's Pie Eating Contest
First to clear their plate without using their hands wins bragging rights and a stylish plaque. Register at the Main Stage at Flynn’s Irish Tavern before 2:00 p.m. Preregistration is also available at the Festival Information Booth, corner of Hillside Drive and Main Street before 1:30 p.m. Meet at the stairs of the Main Stage on festival site at 2:15 p.m. Contest begins at 2:30 p.m.
EVENT PARKING:
Parade & Festival Parking:
Spectators gathering to watch the parade should be in place by 8:20 a.m. Main Street will close to vehicular traffic promptly at 8:30 a.m. The parade will begin at 8:50 a.m.
Ocean Boulevard will be open to vehicular traffic until 8:30 a.m. and is expected reopen around 11:30 a.m., immediately following the parade. Main Street from Ash Street to Ocean Blvd. will remain closed after the parade and become the festival area.
On-site Public Parking:
Open Grass Lot between Barefoot Church and BB&T: 601 Main Street, North Myrtle Beach, SC 29582
McLean Park: 93 Oak Drive, North Myrtle Beach, SC 29582
Grass lot on the corner of 2nd Avenue North and Ocean Blvd.; 200 N. Ocean Blvd., North Myrtle Beach, SC 29582
Off-site Parking/Pick-ups
Buses will run continuously from 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m.
Coming from Little River on Hwy 17:
Ocean Drive Elementary School – 901 11th Avenue North, North Myrtle Beach, SC 29582
Corner of 8th Avenue North & Ocean Blvd.
Corner of 12th Avenue North & Ocean Blvd.
Corner of 14th Avenue North & Ocean Blvd.
Corner of 17th Avenue North & Ocean Blvd.
Coming from Hwy 31 via Robert Edge Parkway:
Ocean Drive Elementary School- 901 11th Avenue North, North Myrtle Beach, SC 29582
*Buses provided are not wheelchair accessible. Please use the provided Handicap parking areas for wheelchair accessible parking.
Handicap Parking
Open Grass Lot between Barefoot Church and BB&T: 601 Main Street, North Myrtle Beach, SC 29582
WDPE TV 15 is the Media Sponsor. Easy 105.9 is the Radio Sponsor. The North Myrtle Beach Chamber of Commerce is the St. Patrick’s Day Parade Presenting Sponsor.
No comments:
Post a Comment