128th Annual Atlanta St. Patrick's Parade & Festival brings family fun of emerald proportions to downtown Atlanta on Saturday, March 13

ATLANTA (March 9, 2010) – Trying to decide how to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day this year? Get your green on early this year with the 128th Annual St. Patrick’s Parade & Festival in Downtown Atlanta, Saturday, March 13, and join tens of thousands of folks looking for free, family-friendly fun! Whatever type of entertainment is desired in your pot of gold, from live music to festive fare and Irish dancing to philanthropy, the Festival at Underground Atlanta and Downtown Parade truly runs the (Irish) gamut. 

“We are really looking forward to this year’s St. Patrick’s Parade and Festival – an important event on Atlanta’s calendar each year,” says William Pate, CEO and President of the Atlanta Convention and Visitor’s Bureau. “This celebration draws talent from all across Georgia; there are even a few groups from Maryland and Virginia. Families or students, locals or visitors, Irish or not, Atlanta’s St. Patrick’s Day festivities draw everyone together for a spectacularly ‘green’ time!” 

SATURDAY, MARCH 13th SCHEDULE OF EVENTS (as of March 8, 2010)

TIME: 11:00am – 4:00pm
PERFORMER: Bagpiper Danny Ray Cole
WHERE: Underground Atlanta Food Court

TIME: Kicks off at Noon
ACTIVITY: 128th Annual Atlanta St. Patrick’s Parade
HIGHLIGHTS: Line the streets to view more than 200 units including Irish groups like Hibernians, Ancient Order Hibernians, Firefighters Emerald Society of Metro Atlanta and Metro Atlanta Police Emerald Society, Cabinet Minister from Ireland, Vince Dooley, Budweiser Clydesdales, Cregan O’Brien School of Irish Dance, Miss Global America, Marching Elites Drill Team, Atlanta Hawks, Junior League of Atlanta’s ShamRock ‘N Roll Road Race, St. Baldrick’s, Toyota Scion, Atlanta Motor Speedway Pace Cars, Forscom Army Band and more!
WHERE: Downtown Atlanta – Peachtree St/Ralph McGill to Underground Atlanta

TIME: 12:00 pm – 6:00pm
PERFORMERS: Zoe Myers, Irish Dance Groups, Vendor Market, Children’s Activities, Barbershop Quartet, Atlanta’s White Man Statue, Magician, Atlanta Braves, Hawks and Thrashers Street Team and Interactive Zone
WHERE: Underground Atlanta Fountain’s Plaza and Lower Fountain’s Stage and Property Wide

TIME: 12:00pm – 6:00pm
PERFORMERS: Coast Talent Kids agency, representing the best talents in the Southeast
WHERE: Underground Atlanta Lucky Charm Stage (Lower Alabama/Lower Pryor)

TIME: Various
ACTIVITY: See the famous Budweiser Clydesdale horses
WHERE: In the Parade on Saturday; take a photo with one Clydesdale post-Parade at Underground Atlanta; go visit the Clydesdales Wednesday, March 10 – Friday, March 12 at their stables in Centennial Olympic Park

TIME: 12:00pm – 8:00pm
PERFORMERS: Shanveen, Alyssa Pucket, Desire (U2 cover band), Yacht Rock Schooner
WHERE: Underground Atlanta Kenny’s Alley Stage

TIME: Ongoing
ACTIVITY: Pot of Gold campaign to benefit Atlanta Community Food Bank; bring cans on Saturday to drop in bins along the Parade route and at Underground Atlanta
WHERE: Parade and Underground Atlanta

TIME: Various
ACTIVITY: Irish-related entertainment throughout the city, including music and dancing from Whiskey & Stout and the Cregan O’Brien Irish Dancers in Downtown Atlanta’s Lucky-Marietta District, pre and post-Parade parties at Max Lager’s American Grill & Brewery and discounted admission to Georgia Aquarium
WHERE: Lucky-Marietta District, Georgia Aquarium, Max Lager’s and more! For more information and Georgia Aquarium voucher, visit www.stpatsparadeatlanta.com.

For a full schedule of events, visit www.stpatsparadeatlanta.com or www.underground-atlanta.com. The 2010 sponsors include: Budweiser, Coca-Cola, Ri Ra, Oldcastle, Fado Irish Pub, Atlanta Hotel Council, Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau, Meehan’s Public House Downtown, Shamrock Society, ICCUSA, Hyatt Regency, Creative Loafing, 105.7 The Groove, Centennial Olympic Park, Max Lager’s, Waffle House, Shane’s Rib Shack and Irish Tourism Board.