The Irish spirit will be loud and proud in Woodgate on Saturday as the community celebrates St Patrick’s Day with a parade.
The Esplanade will come alive as the Woodgate Irish Group marches to the tune of the Bundaberg Caledonian Pipe Band and community members are invited to join in the fun.
After the success of the inaugural Woodgate St Patrick’s Parade last year, Woodgate Irish Group’s James Kiernan and Greg Hanrahan said they were excited to have the festivities return.
James said that although St Patrick’s Day fell on March 17, it was tradition to hold the parade the Saturday prior.
“This event is family friendly, and everyone is welcomed to join in the fun of the parade and come for a look,” James said.
“This year's event should hopefully draw a bigger crowd.
“Although there are a lot of locals coming to the parade, I know there are quite a few people coming from Bundaberg as well.”
Greg approached the Bundaberg Caledonian Pipe Band to lead the parade in this year's event after being involved in previous years.
“They were more than happy to come again when asked and I believe that there will be more band members this year,” James said.
“We will march from the corner of Second Avenue and the Esplanade to the Woodgate Beach Pub.
“Like last year, we will be led by the Bundaberg Caledonian Pipe Band who will play a range of traditional Irish tunes, as well as some Scottish ones – St Patrick was born in Scotland.”
The Woodgate St Patrick’s Parade will wrap up at the local hotel and community members can take in the Irish-inspired entertainment from Wide Bay band Slainte.
“This event last year was a huge success considering it was the inaugural event,” James said.
“We saw around 50 people march to the Woodgate Beach Pub to be entertained through the afternoon by traditional Irish band Slainte playing and singing a range of Irish songs.
“We hope that this event will keep growing and become a ‘must see and do’ event of the calendar.”
Woodgate St Patrick’s Parade will start at 10am on Saturday, 12 March from 195 Esplanade, Woodgate Beach.
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