Dear Friends,
Below is the
Order of March for the St. Patrick's Day Parade on Saturday, March 12, 2016
.
Copies will also be available on the morning of the Parade at the assembly point at 4th Ave and Jefferson and a one-page copy can also be printed off the Irish Heritage Club website at irishclub.org.
We would prefer not to have to make any changes to this Order of March,
but if someone anticipates a serious problem
, please let us know as soon as possible and we'll try to rearrange things. We have tried to accommodate requests to be close to or away from bands and/or loud noises, to follow certain banners, etc., and hopefully you will be happy with your position assignments. We also rotate the Divisions each year so that those who were in the last Division in 2015 will have been moved up in the order in 2016, and vice versa.
On the morning of the Parade, all marching groups should
start assembling at 11 am near City Hall Park at 4th Ave. and Jefferson in downtown Seattle
, in order to be completely organized in place and ready to go by Noon at the latest. All vehicles must be in place by 11:30 am or you run the risk of 4th Ave been blocked to all traffic and being unable to get through.
At 12:20 PM, the Irish flag will be raised in front of the King County Administration Building, followed by the
National Anthems of Ireland and the USA
played by trumpeters from the building parapet.
PLEASE BE ALERT AND NOTIFY YOUR GROUP MEMBERS TO BE RESPECTFUL DURING THE ANTHEMS
. If a band member is tuning up at that time, it is easy to miss what's happening elsewhere.
The Parade starts SHARP at 12:30 PM with Grand Marshals Dan & Kathleen O'Toole, Honorary Grand Marshal Casey McNerthney, Seattle Mayor Ed Murray, Galway Mayor Frank Fahy, and other dignitaries blowing the
Official Starter Whistles
. The parade then proceeds north on 4th Ave to Westlake Park where the Reviewing Stand is located.
As you approach the Reviewing Stand,
it is particularly important for bands to stop at Pike St. to wait for the announcers to introduce you.
Otherwise the announcement cannot be heard. A Parade Marshal will beckon you forward once your group has been announced.
All performing groups - bands, dancers, drill teams, etc. - are invited to pause and perform for up to one minute in front of the Reviewing Stand.
We also invite you to travel on to the Seattle Center after the Parade to enjoy the
Irish Festival
- the Monorail offers free travel to the Seattle Center from Westlake between 1:30 - 2:30 pm.
The Parade Chair is David Jacobsen and his cell # is 206-412-2960. Please don't hesitate to call David or John Keane (home # 425-582-2688) with any questions or concerns, or let us know by return email.
Thanks a million to all of you for helping make Seattle's St. Patrick's Day Parade such an enjoyable event.
Míle Buíochas, a Thousand Thanks!
Sincerely
John Keane David Jacobsen
Parade Coordinator Parade Chair