Live Music in Crawley High Street

Sunday 18th March sees Crawley’s 9th annual St Patrick’s Weekend take on a new format as the organisers put on an Irish concert running for 8 hours in the High St on parade day.

The Celebrations are being organised by the Celtic and Irish Cultural Society, (CICS), in association with Crawley Borough Council and Sussex Police with support funding from the Irish Government.  The aims of the parade, apart from having fun or having the ‘craic’, is to encourage Crawley’s diverse and vibrant community to participate in a greater understanding of Celtic and Irish traditions.

The parade is lead by the Mayor of Crawley together with local dignitaries and personalities and takes a route through the town, starting at 1.00pm from the Crawley Train Station and finishing in the High St.  It’s made up of marching bands, community groups, motorised floats promoting local businesses and companies, vintage and classic cars, youth groups, dancing schools, sports clubs, cultural groups, junior bands, marching groups and many more.

The concert continues with an Irish flavour on the Dome Stage where local and international musicians and local dance schools will bring the day to a fantastic conclusion running for the whole afternoon and into the evening.

Crawley’s Chris Oxlade will MC the show and introduce…..
On tour from Ireland, Na Fianna http://www.nafiannamusic.com/
A U2 tribute band, U2 Tribe http://www.u2tribe.com/#
The Dream Tenors from the Celtic Dream show http://www.celtic-dream.com/
Local band, Reelstrings http://reelstrings.com/
Another local band, Paul Stanworth and Emerald Element.
And some surprises….

The organisers expect a large gathering for the concert and invite all to take part in the parade also.

The parade and concert will give all of Crawley’s organisations a great platform to promote themselves and the work they do and a chance to distribute flyers so as to attract new members. All are welcome. It’s non-political and non-sectarian, one for everyone to enjoy in celebrating this world famous day that is very unique.

The idea of Crawley’s St Patrick’s Celebrations is to bring businesses, cultures and communities together through participation and that can only be good for the town and it’s inhabitants. With all the communities working together the town can be better for it. Crawley is expanding and the CICS want to contribute to that ‘feel good factor’ for the benefit of its residents.

There is also a special section called the ‘nations of the world’ where the participants can walk in the parade carrying the flag of their country or geographical region.  So the more flags and banners the merrier.  The parade is non-political and non-sectarian, one for everyone to enjoy in celebrating this world famous day that is very unique.

The parade features a fancy dress competition with some interesting prizes on offer to thr winners

For more info on the society and to see last years parade and the publicity it generated check out www.celtic-irish.co.uk

It’s not just an Irish only St Patrick’s Parade, it’s a parade for the community. Crawley has a diverse mix of people and cultures and as a new town has welcomed people from across the globe.  Crawley Borough Council, are fully supportive of the event as it encourages cultural cohesion recreating the party atmosphere of the worldwide St. Patrick’s celebration.

There is also a special fancy dress competition with some interesting prizes on offer to to the winners

The organisers also welcome volunteers to work beside professional and experienced stewards. Training will be given to all new volunteers.

If you want to take part in the parade or help with volunteering contact

John Nolan
Mobile 07956 317492
Home 01293 513189
E-mail john.nolan@celtic-irish.co.uk or leave a message via www.celtic-irish.co.uk