eventzone

Lovin’ the McDonald’s St. Pat’s Parade

Larry — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 17:39:10 +0000

We just love this picture and think she’s a cutie!

We’re green with envy!

Larry — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 17:37:03 +0000

It’s a festive day at the McDonald’s St. Pat’s Parade.

Did you see that?

Larry — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 15:54:48 +0000

The McDonald’s St. Pat’s Parade is fun for kids of all ages!

Érin go Brágh!

Larry — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 00:35:40 +0000

Irish or Scots-Irish (at least for the day) and lovin’ it at the Roanoke St. Patrick’s Day Celebration.

An annual parade favorite

Larry — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 00:30:04 +0000

The “Norman Fishing Tackle Choir” at Roanoke St. Pat’s Celebration

Lovin’ those pipe bands!

Larry — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 00:28:02 +0000

Virginia Highlands Pipes & Drums Band at Roanoke St. Pat’s Celebration

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

Larry — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 21:55:45 +0000

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 (NC) Pipe & Drums

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

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.

Virginia Highlands Pipe & Drums

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.

Shenandoah Valley Pipe Band

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!

Larry — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 22:36:01 +0000

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

Larry — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 17:26:08 +0000

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!

Just look at these Bonny knees!

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

Larry — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 19:04:33 +0000

Grand Marshal - Capt. Chris Brown. To honor his life and contribution to Roanoke

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.