It's MYSTIC IRISH PARADE Week 2014!

On March 23rd, over 30,000 St. Patrick’s Day spectators will fill the streets of Mystic, Connecticut for the one and only Mystic Irish Parade! The 11th Annual Mystic Irish Parade will feature over 120 organizations, each one representing their community with uniquely designed floats and enthusiastic participants! Kicking off at 1:00 pm, the parade route will extend from the Mystic Seaport Museum to the Mystic Art Association. Mystic Main Street will be a family friendly celebration for all to enjoy!

In addition to more than ten Celtic Pipe Bands, Fife & Drum Units, and Drum & Bugle Corps that will contribute festive music, the 2014 Mystic Irish Parade will also feature the band Inchicore! As Boston’s best Irish Folk Band, fronted by Dublin’s Derrick Keane, Inchicore is “widely regarded as one of the top Irish bands in the country, playing to packed venues all over the country,” writes The ECHO. With an outstanding stage presence and solid vocals, the Celtic melodies of Inchicore are guaranteed to impress the crowd at the 2014 Mystic Irish Parade!

In special commemoration of their eleventh year, the Mystic Irish Parade Foundation selected an amazing Grand Marshal of the 2014 parade! This honor, bestowed to a dedicated member of Southeastern Connecticut, was given to Tony Sheridan, President of the Chamber of Eastern Connecticut.

The outstanding sponsors that make this celebration possible each year include Levine Distributors (Budweiser) Mohegan Sun, The Day, F&F Distributors (Guinness), Olde Mystic Village and Full Power Radio (Jammin 107.7, WBMW 106.5). 

This festive celebration, as well as many other annual area events, are planned and supported by the Mystic Irish Parade Foundation. The Mystic Irish Parade Foundation is 100% volunteer driven, supported by team members dedicated to promoting Irish heritage and organizing a spectacular parade for the community! The MIPF is a registered nonprofit organization and all donations are tax deductible and directly help fund local charities, as well as the annual parade. Over $2,000 was donated to these local nonprofit organizations in 2013.

Please join us this Friday, March 21st from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm, at the Ancient Mariner in Downtown Mystic for the pre-parade celebration! Not only will there be a fantastic happy hour, ½ price appetizers and drink specials, guests will have the chance to meet the Grand Marshal of the 2014 parade too! The committee will be there to discuss volunteer opportunities for next year’s parade as well.

Lastly, on Sunday, March 30th at 4:00 pm at the Harp & Hound Pub in Mystic, the Mystic Irish Parade Foundation will award trophies to the winning participants of the parade. They will also honor the dedicated volunteers who have made the Mystic Irish Parade a resounding success and one of the most reputable parades in New England. In addition, the annual raffle drawing for a trip for two to Ireland will be held! (Raffle tickets can be purchased at the Harp & Hound, Taber Inne and the Wireless Zone in Groton for $5 per ticket.)

For more information, or to become a volunteer, please visit our website, www.mysticirishparade.org, or follow us on Facebook under Mystic Irish Parade. Please join us at these events in celebration of the 11th Annual Mystic Irish Parade! We look forward to seeing you there with your family and friends in your best St. Patrick’s Day attire!