There will be plenty to entertain in Fermanagh this St. Patrick’s Day as celebrations return to the county.

On Friday, March 17, Enniskillen will see the return of the St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Fun Day, thanks to volunteer-led organising group Project St. Patrick.

With the theme for the day set as ‘Back To The Future’, the craic will start at the Broadmeadow with a free family fun day and a host of live entertainment acts starting at 1.30pm, presented by the hugely popular DJ Bob.

Enjoy a range of free activities, from soccer skills to water-based taster sessions, balloon modelling to bouncy castles, or mingle with dinosaurs and Disney heroes and get snapped with some of the silver screen’s most famous vehicles.

There’ll be face-painting and glitter tattoos along with free tasty treats, including chocolate fountains sponsored by GT Exhausts and candy floss supplied courtesy of Balcas.

“We’re delighted that our wakeboarding leprechauns are back, and we’ve expanded our water activities – making celebrating St. Patrick’s Day in Ireland’s only island town a truly unique experience,” said a spokesperson for Project St. Patrick.

There will also be lots of pre-parade fun at the Diamond in Enniskillen town centre with a live performance from the Hand Me Downs at 2.15pm, as well as traditional dancers and walkabout characters to keep you entertained.

For those who would prefer a less boisterous viewing platform, Fr. Raymond Donnelly is again providing this year a ‘quiet space’ at St. Michael’s Parish Centre – booking is essential.

Supported by Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, Enniskillen BID and local businesses, this year’s spectacular parade will set off at 3.30pm by 2023 Grand Marshalls, OMG Foundation.

The parade features a range of traditional and carnival-style floats, vintage and futuristic vehicles, acrobatics and live music, as well as the opportunity to meet T-Rex, an interactive dinosaur, and his baby, Rex, plus much, much more.

Elsewhere in the county, there will also be a parade and fun day in the Border village of Belleek.

The parade starts at 1pm from the GAA centre and will travel down the main street, followed by live entertainment on ‘the Gig Rig’ until around 4pm.

There will be a jumble sale and refreshments served at Wark Hall from 11am to 2pm. Belleek Pottery Visitor Centre and car park will be open from 10am to 4pm – so why not call in to the showroom for a look, and enter into a free draw for a chance to win a pottery leprechaun?

All hostelries in the town are doing special offers on food/drink for the day, and there’ll be plenty of craic in the local pubs from early evening until late.

A spokesperson for the organising committee said: “As this year’s St. Patrick’s Day falls on a bank holiday weekend, we are hoping that friends and families will come to visit us in the picturesque village of Belleek on the banks of the river Erne.

“All in all, a real family day out to celebrate the feast of our national saint is planned, and we will have something for everyone. Come along and enjoy!”

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