Why is there no St. Paddy's Day Parade in Jax?

[Ocklawaha]

Because it doesn't involve football, country music or monstertrucks?

I ask people what their "Nationalities " are all the time. A lot just shrug, or say I think 1% native American.(One said Texas!).That's why we don't have any Real European  ethnic food here.
Of course everyone becomes Irish on st Paddy's....

"CONFEDERATE AMERICAN!" YeeeeHawww!

OCKLAWAHA

[Captain Zissou]

We should have a big southbank party and let some of the proceeds go to Friendship Fountain.  If we turned that fountain green......That would be something!! I was in Savannah 10 days ago and already the fountains were green and some businesses were making preparations for the big event.  We could do something much better.

[CrysG]

That would be cool. I thought the lights at the fountain were LED's and could change the color without adding anything to the water. I could be wrong.

As for the Irish Festival I didn't even know about it until now.

[fatcat]

in bad economy, it is even more important to have this kind of evens that get people excited and spending money.

[Jason]

It was not very well advertised.

Here is a link to the first mention of it on this site: http://www.metrojacksonville.com/forum/index.php/topic,4492.0.html

[Ocklawaha]

Nighttime, turn the RIVER GREEN between the two downtown bridges. Use the fountain and fireworks to set it off.
the green is projected from laser lighting. If a water wall could be created under the lip of the Acosta Bridge then we would be able to project movies on it. All it involves is the projection equipment and a bunch of sprayer heads.
Knotts Berry Farm in California does nightly shows with their fountain.

OCKLAWAHA

[Jason]

Now that is a cool idea Ock!

BTW, Friendship fountain is capable of green lighting.  No dye necessary.

[Ocklawaha]

SAMPLES!

OCKLAWAHA

[Ocklawaha]

Couldn't resist this one too. The fountain in California brings Charlie Brown to life.

OCKLAWAHA

[ProjectMaximus]

I would imagine it would've been standing room only if the Irish fest fell on both St. Patty's day and also the weekend.

Here in Chicago they did the parade over the weekend. No reason you can't move the celebration to the weekend closest to the actual date. And they apparently dye the Chicago river green as part of the festivities (I wasnt there...)

[Shwaz]

Here in Chicago they did the parade over the weekend. No reason you can't move the celebration to the weekend closest to the actual date. And they apparently dye the Chicago river green as part of the festivities (I wasnt there...)

A weekend day closest to that date was last Saturday when the Irish Festival was held at Met-Park. It did have a good turn out but imo more people would've gone if it was actually St. Patty's day.

Just stopped by my house for lunch and O'Brothers was already packed at 2:30 in the afternoon.

[Jason]

See, I don't think people have any problems taking the day off to celebrate and chug some green beer. 

[fsujax]

Green Beer, light the Modis Green and make Friendship Fountain green, that would be a good start.

[subro]

One of the driving organizations behind most St Patrick’s Day parades is the Ancient Order of Hibernians and there are no local Divisions that I know of in Duval. There may be one in St Augustine but I wasn’t able to find much information for them online.  

[Lucasjj]

Although there wasn't a parade, the St Patty's Day block party in Riverside went real well from my perspective last night. A lot of people, good times, and no real issues. It just shows that if this city would put together events like this people would show up for them.