CelticFest Vancouver 2006 Parade News Release

February 23, 2006

CELTS & KILTS TAKE GRANVILLE

Vancouver, BC – What do Celts and kilts have in common with Banghra dancers, the Queen of Sambalada, a clown troupe, a 12-horse drill team, three dozen baton twirlers, 30 young unicyclists, stilt walkers & jugglers, antique fire trucks, flatbeds, motorcycle maneuvers, musicians galore .. and several thousand people from a very diverse range of music, dance, civic and community groups - all andering down the street together on a Sunday morning in March?

Why... what else could it be but Vancouver's exceptionally eclectic, and appropriately multi-cultural version of a St. Patrick's Day Parade? To the delight of an expected 100,000 watchers, CelticFest Vancouver 2006 is taking over Granville Street for its third parade.

On Sunday, March 19th at 11 am, Vancouver's proudly grassroots 3rd Annual St. Patrick's Day Parade starts marching north on Granville Street at Davie, ending at Dunsmuir by about 1:30 pm. Last year's parade was chosen "Best Special Event" by the Vancouver Board of Trade's Spirit of Vancouver.

Parade Grand Marshall, organizer Steve McVittie, already has more participants registered to march in the parade than last year. He expects still more - and is delighted. "People love this parade. It is such a community event — a chance for small businesses and community groups to get out and show their civic pride to 100,000 of their neighbours and customers. What could be better.. and a great time?" McVittie says it may be Vancouver's least expensive parade to enter, at just $50 for community groups and $500 for businesses. "We don't even require a float - people can walk if they like. Our rules are about safety and order. Audience approval can pretty much take care of the rest."

This year's Honorary Parade Marshall is the Hon. Carole Taylor, MLA Vancouver-Langara and Provincial Minister of Finance, who is delighted by the popularity of the festivities and the opportunity it provides to showcase "the rich cultural heritage and traditions of BC's Celtic community."

Immediately after the parade, Ms. Taylor will be the keynote speaker at the Festival's Official Ceremony, at TD Plaza at Georgia and Granville, followed by an electrifying performance by Troy MacGillivray, a multi-talented fiddler from Nova Scotia, currently nominated for Best Intrumental Recording of the Year at the East Coast Music Awards, accompanied by our own North Shore Celtic Ensemble.

The St. Patrick's Day Parade is sponsored by Western Union, who will give free balloons to the first 4,000 kids. For information about CelticFest Vancouver, please visit www.celticfestvancouver.com

Media Contact: For more information, photos, or interviews please contact Julia Markus at 604-683-5622 julia@celticfestvancouver.com

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