The 64th Bay City St. Patrick’s Day Parade will take place on
March 18, 2018 at 2:00 pm
Photo by Mark I Photography
The 2017 parade on March 19th began at 2:00 p.m. at Center and Park Avenues and disbanded at Wenona Park on Water Street.
Entries included the St. Patrick’s Day Parade Queen’s float, marching bands, pipe bands, drum and drill teams and many creative floats.
All was led by the 2017 Parade Marshal Rob Schmidt, to celebrate the Irish, our community and the beginning of Spring.
Please join us in 2018. It’s never too early to start planning your float.
We hope you and yours have a Happy St. Patrick’s Day. Slainte!
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 Marching Band
- Local Boy Scout troops
- Auburn Accordian Marching Band
- Knights of Columbus Fourth Degree Drill Team
- AAA Furniture
- Michigan Bell Telephone
- Gillman Plumbing
- Sabourin Drugs
- Munger Civil Defense Unit
Past Parades
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.
