The sound of bagpipes at Roanoke’s St. Pat’s Celebration

So you love the sound of bagpipes!  The 2010 Roanoke St. Patrick’s Day Celebration has got you covered.   Here are the current Pipe & Drum Bands scheduled to perform in this year’s McDonald’s St. Pats Parade.

Jamestown Pipe & Drums – their mission is to educate the population of the Triad and beyond to the rich Scottish history of North Carolina through the use of the Great Highland Bagpipe and the Scottish Drums.

Warpipe is a relatively new, exciting, extremely entertaining Celtic Pipe Band based in Roanoke, Virginia. Led by champion piper Burt Mitchell, the band offers unique and powerful pipe music accompanied by highly innovative and energetic drumming.

The Virginia Highlands Pipes and Drums, based in the Roanoke Valley, were formed in 1983 with three pipers and one drummer. Their sound is as traditional as the MacFarlane tartan they proudly wear.

The Shenandoah Valley Pipe Band was founded in early 2009.  The band provides traditional Scottish and Irish pipe music to the Shenandoah Valley and beyond, an area rich with Scots-Irish culture and tradition.

What would be better than bagpipes and men in kilts? Having a front row seat for the men in kilts, bagpipes with large drums! A day of celebrating Irish and Celtic culture wouldn’t be the same without the sounds of pipe bands filling the air.  Be sure to get to downtown Roanoke as early as you can as this year promises to be one of the largest and best St. Pat’s Celebrations yet! The McDonald’s St. Pat’s Parade steps off at 11:00am and Celtic Festival starts at 10:00am and continues until 5:00p.m.

It’s all FREE!

Roanoke’s Riverdance Challenge – Lord of Roanoke!

We’re going to challenge the World Record for the longest Riverdance line and we need you particpation! Get to downtown Roanoke early before the McDonald’s St. Pat’s Parade and be part of the fun event!  We hope to fill Jefferson Street with Riverdancers of all spaces and sizes.  If you can move your feet and chew gun at the same time – you can do it!  We’ll show you how.  Tell you friends and spread the word.  See our Facebook event page for continual updates. The line will start at the parade judges stand at Franklin Road & Jefferson St. (in front of SunTrust) and hopefully run all the way down to the Celtic Festival site (in front of Corned Beef & Company). Who knows, maybe even longer than that.

It all happens about 30 minutes before the McDonald’s St. Pat’s Parade steps off.

Get there EARLY, the Riverdance Challenge starts at approx. 10:30am!

2nd Annual Bonniest Knees Contest

Men in kilts+ blindfolded women+ a few green beers = a hilarious contest you won’t want to miss!

On March 13, the 2nd Annual Bonniest Knees Contest will be held at the Roanoke St. Patrick’s Day Celebration – Celtic Festival across from Corned Beef & Co.  So what are Bonny knee? The perfect combination of  knobs, muscle and just the right amount of hairiness, smoothness and personality!  Of course, the women who are judging get to determine for themselves the “Bonniest Knees in SW Virginia.”  But you can judge for yourself.  Don’t miss out on all of the fun festivities that will be going on throughout the day.

What’s the most outrageous contest you’ve ever witnessed or even been in??

For more information and details visit the St. Pats Celebration website!

Capt. Chris Brown honored at McDonald’s St. Pat’s Parade

The 21st annual downtown McDonald’s St. Pat’s Parade will continue its longstanding tradition of “honoring those that protect and serve.”  The life, memory and contribution to our community of Roanoke City Firefighter, Capt. Chris Brown will be honored posthumously at this year’s Roanoke St. Patrick’s Day Celebration on Sat. March 13, 2010.

When EventZone staff heard that Chris Brown had died suddenly in October ‘09, we really wanted to do something to honor his memory.  Chris served as a firefighter for the citizens of Roanoke City since 1994.  Chris was a hero and inspired others by being such a role model.

The suggestion was made at the first St. Patrick’s Day Celebration committee meeting that Capt. Brown be honored posthumously as the McDonald’s St. Pat’s Parade’s Grand Marshal.  EventZone contacted Fire Chief David Hoback and he contacted the Brown family and they agreed, indicating that it would be an honor.  Chris’ wife Stephanie and his two daughters Caroline and Hannah will be on the Grand Marshal parade float along with Chris’ mother, and sisters.  Chris’ brother, Mark who also is a Roanoke City firefighter, a Lieutenant with Engine 5 C-Shift will walk along the parade with fellow fireman from Chris’ station. The Brown family will be acknowledged at the judge’s stand during the parade and after the parade at the Celtic Festival. The family will be presented a plaque in honor of Chris, as he was a dedicated person that worked to “protect and serve” the citizens of Roanoke City.

Read more about Capt. Chris Brown

Roanoke Times article

Roanoke Fire.com blog

Apply now to be part of ‘10 Festival in the Park’s Performing Arts schedule

Be a part of Festival in the Park’s award winning entertainment!  Every year Festival in the Park serves as a showcase for the best, newest and brightest talent in our region – and this year will be no exception.   These performers, throughout each day of Festival in the Park, volunteer their time to showcase their talents and to help add to the community atmosphere of Festival in the Park.  The Performing Arts entertainment portion of Festival in the Park is one of our favorite ways to “Celebrate Arts,  Music & Family.”

If you’d like showcase your group’s talent – complete an Online Application – Deadline for applying is March 1, 2010.

Performing arts entertainers are scheduled on 4 different stages, on Saturday, May 29 – Monday, May 31st.  We accept applications from bands, dancers, performing artists and other performing artists or groups!  EventZone provides sound and technical support and performance times are 50 minutes.

Deadline for Performing Arts Application is March 1, 2010

Here’s what one of our prior local bands tells us about their Festival in the Park experience – Greg Escoe, of Madrone

“We want to first thank Festival in the Park! Our previous performances with your festival helped the band to land on stages at Floydfest and the Millennium Music Conference, also sharing bills with Shinedown, Staind, 3 Doors Down, Theory of a Deadman several times last summer!  The band is about to impact rock radio with their new single “Daybreak” and is being courted by major labels…we would love to be a part of Festival in the Park again…”

See Madrone’s web site

If you have any questions contact Sarah Stephenson 540-342-2640 x247

Silent Auction for Scholarship for the Arts Program

At the April 16, 2010 Kroger Cabin Fever Series concert (featuring The Entertainers) – we will be holding a terrific Silent Auction to benefit the Festival in the Park Scholarship for the Arts Program.  Make sure you arrive early, as there are so many great items to bid on!  This is a fun night filled with dancing and fabulous music, why not help out a worthy cause while you’re there – and pick up some great deals!  If you are interested in donating an item for the auction please contact the EventZone office. Donating an item is also a tax deduction!

Festival’s Scholarship for the Arts Program began in 1991 and has to date awarded over $110,000 to area students pursuing further education in the arts.  These awards are made annually to high school seniors and college freshmen who live within a 100 mile radius of Roanoke.  This scholarship program is for post secondary educational studies in the arts which include:  music, dance, theater, sculpture, painting, photography, and drawing.  Please help us support the future of the ARTS in our community!!

For more information about the Scholarship for the Arts Program, visit the Festival in the Park website.

Click here to purchase Kroger Cabin Fever Series tickets.

Put on your dancing shoes and don’t forget your wallet! We will see you there!

2010 McDonald’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade

We’re gearing up again for our annual McDonald’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade.  After the rain last year, we’re ready for some good ol’ Irish luck at this year’s Roanoke St. Patrick’s Day Celebration on March 13.  Come be a part of an exciting Roanoke tradition and one of the Mid-Atlantic Region’s largest St. Patrick’s Day parades and celebrations.  This year’s parade will continue to honor our local police, firefighters, veterans,  and EMS.  We are proud of those “Who protect and serve” all year round.

The 2010 Grand Marshal will be the late Captain Chris Brown’s family, honoring his service and dedication to the community.  Chris served as a firefighter for the citizens of Roanoke City since 1994.  For numerous years, Chris would come to the EventZone office and pick up supplies to run the “fireman’s foam” that kids have come to love during Festival in the Park, Memorial Day weekend.  We are very thankful that his family has agreed to serve as the parade’s Grand Marshal and we look forward to a beautiful day filled with Irish cheer in his honor.

Companies, individuals and families are all invited to be a part of the parade!  This is a great opportunity to show off your organization, business, or maybe just your Irish spirit.   Thousands of spectators look forward to this  annual event.  All parade entries encouraged to be festive.  We really encourage floats, or maybe come up with a unique theme.  But remember get going now!  If your entry stands out, the judges might just pick yours to win!

The categories for this year’s parade are:

Best Neighborhood

Best Celtic Theme

Best Overall

Most Patriotic

Best Commercial Business

Best Non-Profit

Be sure to get your parade application in early! We expect a full and amazing McDonald’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

Visit the St. Patrick’s Day Parade website for parade application and more details.

2009 winners:

Best Celtic Theme: Annie Lin

Most Patriotic: Post 64, 29th Infantry Division Association

Best Neighborhood: Old Southwest

Best Business: Grandin Village Business Association

Best Non-Profit:  Parrot Heads of the Blue Ridge

Check out photos from prior McDonald’s St. Patrick’s Day Parades!

Festival in the Park’s – Youth Art Show

This annual portion of Festival in the Park is a great opportunity for Roanoke area elementary and middle school students to showcase their artistic talent – and one of our favorite parts of Festival in the Park!  Each year during Festival in the Park the students’ artwork is displayed in a high traffic area and a great location for festival patrons to enjoy.  This year the artwork will be on display Saturday and Sunday May 29-30, 2010 from 11:00a.m. to approximately 5:00p.m.  The are a total of $1,950.00 in awards in the form of art supplies for partcipating students and their school .   There will be three People’s Choice and two judged award winners for each grade; a $50 gift certificate for the student and $100 gift certificate for their school.  This contest is only open for grades 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th.  All entries must be received no later than May 20, 2010. For more details, rules, and and an application please visit the Festival in the Park website.

Festival in the Park – named a “Top 20 Event” in the Southeast!

What is the Top 20 Events listing?

Each year The Southeast Tourism Society selects its Top 20 Events, for this prestigious award.  These are the best of the best!  Through a nomination process, Southeast Tourism Society chooses the Top 20 events in the Southeast for each month of the year and publishes this list of winners quarterly. The Top 20 Events publication is sent to over 1,600 newspapers, magazines, radio stations, TV stations, AAA publications and others.

EventZone is proud of the 40 years of quality entertainment and celebration of community that Festival in the Park has represented to this community and region.

We’d like to thank David Mikula, president of local creative firm Inprint Inc. for nominating Festival in the Park.

See the list of spring 2010 Top 20 Events at the Southeast Tourism Society’s web site.

2010 McDonald’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade

We’re gearing up again for our annual McDonald’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade.  After the rain at last year’s parade, we’re ready for some good ol’ Irish luck at 2010’s St. Pats day festivities on March 13.  Come be a part of a growing Roanoke tradition and one of the Mid-Atlantic Region’s largest parades.  This year’s parade will continue to honor our local police, firefighters, veterans,  and EMS.  We are proud of those “Who protect and serve” all year round.  Companies, individuals and families are all invited to be a part of the parade!  This is a great opportunity to show off your organization, business, or maybe just exceptional Irish decorations.  Thousands of spectators look forward to this  annual event.  Be as festive as a leprechaun, decorate a float, come up with a unique theme; but remember get going now!  If your entry stands out, the judges might just pick yours to win!  The categories for this year’s parade are:

Best Overall                                                                                                                              

Best Neighborhood

Best Celtic Theme

Most Patriotic

Best Commercial Business

Best Non-Profit

Be sure to get your application in early! We look forward to an amazing 2010 McDonald’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

Visit the St. Patrick’s Day Parade website for parade application and more details.

2009 winners:

Best Celtic Theme: Annie Lin

Most Patriotic: Post 64, 29th Infantry Division Assocation

Best Neighborhood: Old Southwest

Best Business: Grandin Village Business Association

Best Non-Profit: Parrotheads of the Blue Ridge

Check out photos from 2008 and 2009 McDonald’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade!

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