Castle Park festivities and marching bands to thrill Kilkenny for St Patrick’s Festival

Kilkenny Castle Park will play host to a range of activities throughout this week as part of the St Patrick’s Festival Kilkenny.

On Wednesday, the Marble City welcomes back the Purdue All American Marching Band from West Lafayette, Indiana. This 400-strong marching band, performed in 2013 and are returning with the world’s largest drum which will be rolled through the streets of Kilkenny.

The fun begins at 3.30pm with Purdue marching through the streets of Kilkenny followed by a static performance by the Mountain West Conference All Star Band from Colorado Springs in the Castle Park at 4pm.

Over 389 members strong, the band has plenty of performance opportunities for instrumentalists, percussionists, color guard members, dancers, and twirlers.

On Thursday, there will be lots of activity in and around the Parade and Castle Park with Italian Flagwavers at 9.15am and 2.30pm, live broadcasts, street entertainment, the festival market and the big wheel and vintage carousel.
St Patrick’s Day, Friday March 17, brings the main event the Castle Park festivities — a whole day of family fun.

Visitors can travel through time with vintage car displays and Viking reenactments. Enjoy family friendly street entertainment or play dress up for the perfect pic — an ideal momento of the day.

For the car enthusiast Kilkenny Motor Club and Rosbercon Motor Club will be displaying a range of cars. Déise Medieval will have a village display, showing old crafts and there will be lots of medieval re-enactments.

Family entertainment will come in the form of The Extraordinary Flea Circus, Juanita the clown and lots more with Circus 250 while after the Parade you’ll be able to run away with the circus with acrobats and fishy and dishy spinning plates and juggling.
Kilkenny Castle Park events are taking place throughout the day beginning at 11am so it’s a great pre and post parade activity or a quieter way to spend the afternoon if Parade crowds are not your thing.

Speaking ahead of the festival Mayor of Kilkenny David Fitzgerald said this year’s St Patrick’s Festival has a packed schedule of events for all the family .

“It’s a representation of the county, our culture, community and creativity,” he said.

“With many free events and our biggest St Patrick’s Day yet! From the parades to the Castle Park festivities, there is so much happening around the city and county.”

For more information and to plan your festival week and St Patrick’s Day check out stpatricksfestivalkilkenny.
com.