There is no shortage of activities taking place across Fermanagh this St. Patrick’s Day.

Not only will celebrations take place tomorrow (March 17), but there will also be fringe events taking place tonight, such as a fabulous illuminated flotilla tonight in Enniskillen from 7pm.

In Enniskillen, the celebrations begin 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, and mingle with dinosaurs and Disney characters and get snapped with some of the silver screen’s most famous vehicles.

Other sights on the nearby Erne’s water will even include wakeboarding leprechauns.

The parade will be led off from the Lakeland Forum at 3.30pm by 2023 Grand Marshals; OMG Foundation.

The parade features a range of traditional and carnival-style floats, vintage and futuristic vehicles, acrobatics, and live music.

The collection on the day is in aid of local charity, Home-Start Lakeland. The parade will conclude at 4.30pm.

For those wishing to grab prime pole position for viewing, there will be lots of fun before the parade 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.

And for those who would prefer a less boisterous viewing platform, Fr. Raymond Donnelly has organised a ‘Quiet Space’ at St. Michael’s Parish Centre (note that booking is essential).

Other attractions on the day viewing the entries to the children’s art competition in the Royal British Legion, while enjoying traditional music and dancing performances.

It should be noted that there will be no parking from East Bridge Street through to Darling Street, and the route will be barriered off from early morning.

The Townhall car park will be available for disabled parking, and this will close for entry at 6pm. There is also disabled parking along the route, with Wellington Road and Belmore Street providing the most advantageous viewing.

Organisers have asked for spectators to avoid the Wellington Road Car Park, and to note there will be no parking at the Lakeland Forum.

The main parade begins from the Lakeland Forum at 3.30pm, and concludes between Enniskillen Castle and Lakeland Forum at approximately 4.30pm.

Other activities include a special evening of music and dance held at the Royal British Legion, organised by Enniskillen Pipe Band, and featuring the Highland Dragon Pipe Band from Bielfeld in Germany on Friday evening at 8pm.

This event is part of the Enniskillen Pipe Band’s 100th year celebrations.

Further details on St. Patrick’s Day in Enniskillen can be found by visiting the Project St. Patrick Facebook page.

Project St. Patrick is supported by Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, Enniskillen BID, and local businesses,

Also this Friday, over in Belleek, its 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.

For those with energy left after a busy day, why not head five miles up the road to Garrison for the annual St. Patrick’s day Fíor Ceili?

There, you can enjoy music by St. Joseph’s Ceili Band from 8:30pm in St. Mary’s Hall, or head to the Riverside Bar, where a Traditional music session starts at 9pm.

Another community hosting a celebration to mark St. Patrick’s Day will be Derrygonnelly, with a parade due to be held at 1pm in the village.

There promises to be great excitement on the day with lots on offer to entertain the community, including balloon modelling, face painting and the popular Party Bees, as well as a host of other activities on the day.

 

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