Musicians, local dancers highlighted in lineup for 2018

Eight performance groups will be taking the Irish festival stage on Saturday, March 17, as part of the Lexington’s 39th Annual Alltech St. Patrick’s Parade and Festival. The lineup features dancers and musicians from across Central Kentucky.

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In 2018, the festival returns to the Robert F. Stephens Courthouse Plaza at 120 N. Limestone in downtown Lexington. It’s part of an all-day celebration that begins at 8 a.m. with the Shamrock Shuffle to benefit Lexington Habitat for Humanity. The festival kicks off with the annual “Blessing of the Keg” will be held at the Alltech tents at 10:45 a.m. Performances begin at 11 a.m. The parade begins at 1 p.m.

“Our festival has a little bit of something Celtic for everyone: Irish dancers, Scottish pipers,Irish music bands from Lexington and Louisville. It’s free, family-friendly and a great opportunity to see some of Central Kentucky’s best traditional Irish performers,” said Megan Moloney, vice president of the Bluegrass Irish Society.

The 39th annual Alltech Lexington St. Patrick’s Parade and Festival is produced by Lexington Parks and Recreation and is sponsored by the Bluegrass Irish Society.

Keep up with the parade and festival on social media — @LexStPatsParade on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Parade participants and attendees are encouraged to share their photos online, tag @LexStPatsParade and use #LexStPats2018.

Concession vendors for the festival can apply through Jan. 26. Information and craft vendors have until Feb. 9 to apply. Applications for parade participants are being accepted through March 1. All applications can be found online at https://lexingtonstpatsparade.org/.

2018 St. Patrick’s Day Entertainment Schedule 

  • 11:00 – 11:30 a.m. ~ Bluegrass Ceili Academy
  • 11:30 a.m. – 12 p.m. ~ Kentucky McTeggart Irish dancers
  • 12 – 1 p.m. ~ Drunk-N-Sailor
  • 1 – 2 p.m. ~ 39th Annual Alltech Lexington St. Patrick’s Parade
  • 2 – 2:30 p.m. ~ William Sutherland Reid Pipes & Drums
  • 2:30 – 3:30 p.m. ~ Liam’s Fancy
  • 3:30 – 4 p.m. ~ Lexington Irish Dancers
  • 4 – 4:30p.m. ~ Kentucky United Pipes & Drums
  • 5 – 6 p.m. ~ The Bold Roberts
Festival performers announced for 2018 Alltech Lexington St. Patrick’s Festival