Jaffrey St. Patrick's Day Festivities Feature Debut of Renowned Pipe Band

If we're all a little bit Irish on St. Patrick's Day, then the town of Jaffrey is the place to be this week as it celebrates the green-themed holiday in true Celtic style. For the sixth year, The Park Theatre of Jaffrey will produce the immensely popular St. Patrick's Day Parade and for the fourth year it will lead up to the parade with several days of celebration called Shamrock Fest. Each year, the festivities continue to grow and gain a following from across the tri-state area and this year is no different as parade organizers eagerly welcome a renowned pipe band to its marching roster. The Manchester-based New Hampshire Pipes & Drums marching band will travel to Jaffrey's event for the first time to entertain parade-goers with its illustrious and award-winning sound. Originally formed in 2002, the group boasts dozens of multigenerational members and travels throughout the country to compete and perform in parades, graduation ceremonies and at various other functions. The Jaffrey St. Patrick's Day Parade will commence in front of St. Patrick Parish on Main Street in Jaffrey on Sunday, March 16, at 2 p.m. and proceed through downtown Jaffrey, flanked and cheered on by a crowd that often grows to thousands of spectators. The parade was originally co-founded by Jaffrey resident Kevin Hampsey who has continued to produce the event, says The Park Theatre CEO and Managing Director Steve Jackson, who added, "Without his inspiration and hard work each year, this would never happen." In addition to the highly anticipated debut by New Hampshire Pipes & Drums, the parade features a slate of stellar marchers such as Hill's Bandwagon of Vermont, The Flying Irish Dancers, 1st NH Regiment Revolutions, 6th NH Regiment, Keene American Legion, the Conant High School Marching Band and more. Native Irishman Jimmy Quinn, also a parade co-founder, will once again serve as Grand Marshall of the parade and Irish-born theater volunteer Diane Griffin will provide color for the live parade broadcast on The Park Theatre Facebook page, beginning at 12:30 p.m. Feel like joining the fun? There are two opportunities for members of the public to march this year, says the parade organizing team. The first is the Monadnock Pots & Pans Band, which is exactly as it sounds and entails simply showing up to the parade with a pot and/or a pan to bang in noise-making celebration. The second community musical group will be the Granite State Kazoo Choir. Kazoos will be provided, and all are welcome with no kazoo experience required. To join either parade group, the organizers do ask for a sign-up call to The Park Theatre at (603) 532-8888. Leading up to the emerald crown jewel of the parade, Shamrock Fest will offer an array of events and activities to promote the St. Paddy spirit. Having kicked off on March 12, remaining themed films include a free showing at the Park Theatre of "The Great Ireland Road Trip," a travelogue documentary of a young couple on March 13; as well as a showing of the award-winning "The Boxer" on the same evening. Starting Friday night, traditional live music takes the stage with a performance by Jordan Tirrell-Wysocki Trio. Saturday's musicians include father-son duo The Fiddling Thomsons and Celtic rock band Waking Finnegan. Prior to the parade on Sunday, The Grateful Dads will perform inside The Park Theatre starting at noon and then return to play following the parade from about 2:45 to 5 p.m. Food and beverages will be available for purchase inside the theater from noon on that day, including Guinness and Irish whiskey flights and samples. With more than two dozen area sponsors, Shamrock Fest's presenting sponsor is Bar Harbor Bank & Trust, and its secondary sponsor is McClure's Tree Service. A complete sponsor list can be found at shamrockfest.org, as well as a listing of local restaurants serving Irish fare during Shamrock Fest. "We are very proud to produce the annual Jaffrey St. Pat's Parade and Shamrock Fest. It our biggest community event and it brings in thousands of attendees every year," said Jackson in a news release for the event. "We thank everyone that makes it happen; all of the sponsors, advertisers, performers, parade participants, volunteers and Park staff for what they do to make this festival and parade so special for the state of New Hampshire and New England." The Park Theatre is located at 19 Main St. in downtown Jaffrey and the box office can be reached at 532-8888. For tickets and information about the St. Patrick's Day Parade or Shamrock Fest, visit theparktheatre.org or shamrockfest.org.