The 58th Bay City St. Patrick's Day Parade
will be March 18, 2012 at 2:00 p.m.

Download a parade entry application by clicking here,
or by calling Al Rau at (989) 686-6834.

History

Bay City's parade began in 1955 and has grown to an event that has become a celebration for the Irish and Irish at heart.

The first St. Patrick's Day Parade was on March 17, 1955 at 5:30 p.m. The parade started at Center Avenue and Monroe Street and disbanded at City Hall on Washington Avenue. Mr. Jim Noonan was the Parade Marshal and 10,000 people attended the parade. Sheila Tennant was the St. Patrick's Day Queen riding the St. Patrick's Day float that featured a "harp" theme. Parade participants included the Central high school band, local Boy Scout troops, the Auburn Accordion marching band, Knights of Columbus Fourth Degree drill team, AAA Furniture, Michigan Bell Telephone, Gillman Plumbing, Sabourin Drugs, and the Munger Civil Defense unit.

Past parades have featured the Notre Dame marching band and pipe bands from the U.S. and Canada.  Among the marchers in the parade have been Michigan’s governor, Uncle Sam and a “bonafide” leprechaun. Horses, motorcycles, and Irish Wolfhounds have all been in our parades.

Each year our Queens pageant provides scholarship monies for the Queen and court. These young women of Irish descent are selected based on a personal interview a well as on stage poise and creativity.

The 2009 parade included the newly designed St. Patrick’s Day queen’s float, other new entries and many of the favorites from past parades. Marching bands, pipe bands, and drill teams will march down the street.

The 2012 parade will be led by Parade Marshal, Denny Hayes. The parade begins at 2:00 p.m. at Center and Park Avenues and ends at Wenona Park. Entries include the St. Patrick’s Day queen’s float, marching bands, pipe bands, and drill teams along with new entries. All will be marching to celebrate the Irish, our community and the beginning of spring.

Please join us and we hope you and yours have a Happy St. Patrick's Day. Slainte!

Questions?  Contact us by clicking here