St. Patrick Parade to be held in St. Augustine, Fla. on March 9

ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. - Feb. 6, 2024 - PRLog -- The St. Augustine Celtic Music & Heritage Festival is commemorating the 424th anniversary of the first St. Patrick's Day observance in St. Augustine, Fla. The St. Patrick Parade, hosted by Romanza-St. Augustine, Inc., will be held on Saturday, March 9 at 10 am beginning at Francis Field, 25 West Castillo Drive in St. Augustine, with a route through the historic downtown area, culminating at the Celtic Music & Heritage Festival at Francis Field. The Celtic Festival is a two-day celebration of St. Augustine's unique Celtic history.

During this year's St. Augustine St. Patrick Parade, performers include the Corvera d'Asturies Pipe Band from Asturias, the Celtic region of Spain. The traditional band incorporates the artistic expression of students who study the various bagpipe and percussion instruments. The band promotes the prestige of bagpipes and traditional Asturian culture. Band players wear costumes from the central Asturian area which are meticulous reproductions of wealthy attire worn by Asturians in the 17th and 18th centuries.

Additional professional bands featured in the parade include the City of St. Augustine Pipes & Drums Band; Coastal Florida Police & Fire Pipes & Drums; Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department's JFRD Pipes & Drums; Daytona Beach Pipes & Drums, and the Colonial Navy of Massachusetts Fife & Drum Corps. Also featured will be marching units the Oregon Chapter of the National Law Enforcement Emerald Society, which are historically the Irish Police, and the 501st Legion, 7th Squad, along with floats, dancers, horses, carriages, tour trains, trolleys, and more.

The 2024 Parade Grand Marshal will be members of Compassionate St. Augustine who represent the spirit of compassion and generosity that characterizes St. Augustine. The organization's vision is to inspire others to make a positive impact while fostering a culture of kindness. Focused on turning empathy into action, the non-profit has affected the lives of many by combatting food insecurity through the Gift Gardens to the Good Trouble initiative which advocates for unity and change to address the community's needs. For more information about participating in the parade, visit the website at  https://www.celticstaugustine.com/parade. For more information about Romanza Festivale of Music and The Arts, visit the website at https://www.romanzafestivale.com.