The Alltech Lexington St. Patrick’s Parade and Festival returns in 2020 to celebrate its 41st anniversary. Entries for annual parade, as well as vendor applications for the Irish festival, are now being accepted.
The parade and festival will be held on Saturday, March 14, 2020, in downtown Lexington. The Lexington Division of Parks and Recreation produces the annual event with community support from local businesses and cultural organizations led by the Bluegrass Irish Society.
“We’re excited to kick off Lexington’s festival season with our 41st annual parade and a day-long community event including live music, performances, food vendors and more,” said Megan Moloney, the society’s president and parade chair. “This year, we’re welcoming Irish music legend Derek Warfield and the Young Wolfe Tones back to Lexington to headline our festival as part of their U.S. tour.”
The daylong celebration begins at 8 a.m. with the 14th annual Shamrock Shuffle to benefit Lexington Habitat for Humanity. At 10:45 a.m., the “Blessing of the Keg” at the Alltech tents at the Robert F. Stephens Courthouse plaza kicks off a free festival with entertainment from Irish dancers and musicians. The parade begins at 1 p.m. on Main Street.
The full festival lineup will be released in February.
Applications for parade participants, concessions and festival vendors can be found online at https://lexingtonstpatsparade.org/. Concession vendor applications are due by January 30. Applications for vendors for the Irish festival are due February 7. Parade entry forms are due by March 1.
Since 1980, the Bluegrass Irish Society has sponsored Lexington’s St. Patrick’s celebrations with the help of members and volunteers from throughout the community. For information on free membership in the society or to volunteer to help with the parade, visit http://bluegrassirishsociety.org/ and complete the online application.