Get Your Green On! Fort Lauderdale St. Patrick’s Parade & Festival Marches into Downtown on March 14

Arrive Early, Grab a Spot, and Enjoy Activities for the Entire Family!

Get ready to paint the town green!  On Saturday, March 14th, the Fort Lauderdale St. Patrick's Parade and Festival returns to the streets of downtown featuring fun and excitement for the entire family!

This free event has quickly grown into one of Fort Lauderdale's largest and most anticipated festivals, attracting thousands of spectators for a one-of-a-kind celebration of all things Irish.

This year, the pageantry and excitement begins bright and early at 7:30 am with the Shamrock Run, a 4K race starting from Huizenga Plaza (Las Olas Boulevard and Andrews Avenue) and continuing down Las Olas Boulevard to the Intracoastal Bridge and back.  There will also be a series of “Lucky Leprechaun Dashes” for kids from 8:30 to 9:00 am.

Festivities continue throughout the morning hours at Huizenga Plaza with live music from the Joe Dougherty Band, a drum line competition at 10 am showcasing top percussionists from local high schools, and plenty of fun and games for the kids.  At 11 am, join Fort Lauderdale Mayor John P. “Jack” Seiler for an official welcome and a traditional Irish Blessing.  Then, it’s time for the largest St. Patrick’s Parade in South Florida.

The St. Patrick’s Parade begins at noon and travels west along Las Olas Boulevard from S.E. 5th Avenue to Las Olas Riverfront. Led by Grand Marshal Doug Eagon, President of Stiles Corporation, the colorful parade will feature more than 100 decorative floats, pipe and drum corps, classic automobiles, bagpipers, marching bands, animals, Irish dancers, street performers, scout troops, local sports teams, Veterans groups, and so much more.

Following the parade, stick around for the best Irish celebration in town at the St. Patrick’s Festival, which runs until 7:00 pm at Huizenga Plaza and along the Riverwalk. Highlights will include live bands, Irish dancers, interactive entertainment, and cultural attractions.  In addition, the festival will feature live performances by Celtic Bridge, the Joe Dougherty Band, the Aranmore Academy of Irish Dance, the Fineans, the Drake School of Irish Dance and more!

At 5:30 pm, get ready for the ultimate U2 experience as the City of Fort Lauderdale welcomes U2BYUV to the St. Patrick’s Festival for an exclusive engagement!  Led by front man Michael Schmidt, this nationally acclaimed group will leave fans speechless with their honest, authentic performances.  The band’s intense, action-packed sets feature U2 favorites ranging from the early days of “Boy” to U2’s latest album “Songs of Innocence.”

In addition to outstanding entertainment, families and youngsters will love the festival's expanded Kids Zone featuring bounce houses, gigantic slides, pony rides, a trackless train, face painting, a petting zoo, mechanical rides, and much more!

The festivities will also include exhibitor booths, arts and crafts, souvenirs, and plenty of your favorite Irish food and beverages.

“One of the main reasons the City of Fort Lauderdale brought the St. Patrick's Parade & Festival back in 2010 after a 20-year hiatus was to provide downtown businesses with an added economic boost,” said Mayor Seiler.  “Each year, the St. Patrick’s event attracts thousands of residents, locals, and tourists, who enjoy the festivities while spending time and money at our downtown shops, restaurants, retail, cultural and entertainment venues.  By hosting the event on March 14th, our downtown businesses will benefit twice -- once from the huge crowds that will attend the Parade & Festival and again on March 17th when locals and visitors come out to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. It is truly a win/win for everyone.”

On Friday, March 13th, Fort Lauderdale residents and visitors are invited to join Mayor Seiler as he renews a legendary tradition when he paints a green stripe on Las Olas Boulevard to ceremoniously mark the route for the St. Patrick's Parade.

The “Street Striping” ceremony and St. Patrick’s event preview will take place noon in front of Huizenga Plaza, located at the corner of Andrews Avenue and Las Olas Boulevard.

Highlights of the ceremony will include remarks from Mayor Seiler, the St. Patrick's Committee Chair and event officials; the official introduction of Parade Grand Marshal Doug Eagon; an event preview; and special appearances by a bagpiper and the world’s tallest leprechaun.  The festivities will culminate when Mayor Seiler takes to the street with a paint roller in hand to lay down a green stripe on Las Olas Boulevard.

For more information about the Fort Lauderdale St. Patrick's Parade and Festival, call the event hotline at (954) 828-5985 or visit www.ftlaudirishfest.com.

FREE BIKE VALET! -- Ride your bike to the St. Patrick’s Day Parade this Saturday, March 14 and avoid the hassles of getting stuck in traffic and finding parking.  You can park your bike at the free Bike Valet provided by CycleMobility, conveniently located in the center of all of the activities on S.E. 1st Avenue, just north of Las Olas Boulevard across from Huizinga Park.  The bike valet will be available from 10:00 a.m. until 7:30 p.m.  

ROAD CLOSURES -- The following traffic restrictions will be in place for the Fort Lauderdale St. Patrick’s Parade and Festival, which will take place on Saturday, March 14 from 7:30 am – 7:00 pm at Huizenga Plaza and along Las Olas Boulevard in downtown Fort Lauderdale:

Friday, March 13 and Saturday, March 14, 2015

• E. Las Olas Boulevard from Andrews Avenue to SE 1st Avenue will be closed from Friday, March 13 at 9 a.m. to Saturday, March 14 at midnight.

• SE 1st Avenue from E. Las Olas Boulevard to the south side of the FAU/BC Tower parking lot driveway will be closed from 9 a.m. Friday, March 13 to midnight on Saturday, March 14.

Saturday, March 14, 2015

• E. Las Olas Boulevard from Andrews Avenue to SE 16th Avenue will have full closure from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. on Saturday, March 14 to accommodate the Shamrock Run. North and southbound traffic will be periodically allowed to cross.  Motorists should expect travel delays.

• E. Las Olas Boulevard from SE 16th Ave to the E. Las Olas Drawbridge will have temporary road closures and adjusted east and westbound lanes, one lane in each direction of travel, to accommodate the Shamrock Run from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. on Saturday, March 14. Motorists should expect travel delays.

• E. Las Olas Boulevard from SE 1st Avenue to SE 8th Avenue will be closed from approximately 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, March 14.

• Additional temporary traffic closure of SW 1st Avenue in Riverfront and SW 2nd Street from Andrews Avenue to SW 2nd Avenue will occur from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, March 14.

• North New River Drive East eastbound lanes will be closed from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, March 14.  During this timeframe, residents of the Watergarden and the Las Olas Grand condominiums are to use SE 3rd Avenue/SE 4th Street for entrance and exit.  Residents of the Las Olas River House condominiums are to use SE 3rd Avenue/New River Center parking garage driveway for entrance and exit.

• The intersections of E. Las Olas Boulevard and SE 2nd, 3rd and 6th Avenues will be closed from 11:15 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, March 14. These Avenues are anticipated to remain open intermittently for north and southbound traffic until 11:15 a.m.

• Business and residential traffic south of E. Las Olas Boulevard and west of US 1/Federal Highway should use SE 3rd Avenue and SE 4th Street to enter/exit the neighborhood, approaching from SE 6th Street on SE 3rd Avenue.

• Business and residential traffic south of E. Las Olas Boulevard and east of US 1/Federal Highway should use SE 8th Avenue or SE 11th Avenue to enter/exit the neighborhood.

• Residents who live directly inside a closure will still be allowed to/from their homes but may need to use a detoured route.