The Saint Patricks’ Day Downtown Street Festival has an economic impact of over 1.25 million dollars in Wichita Falls, Texas. This is the 9th Annual Saint Patricks’ Day Downtown Street Festival. The festival is designed to bring awareness to historic downtown Wichita Falls and also serves as a fundraiser for Downtown Wichita Falls Development (DFWD). In 2013 the festival raised over $65,000 from this one event alone, “and is one of our largest fund raisers for our organization,” says Cynthia Laney, Executive Director of DFWD.
We always say that downtown is our focus but our goal is economic development for Wichita Falls,” says Cynthia Laney, Executive Director of DFWD.
Danny Ahearn and John Dickenson started the festival less than two years after opening the Iron Horse Pub in 2000. They produced downtown’s first outdoor rock festival, followed by the city’s first St. Patrick’s Day Festival. Both the Pub and the festival are defined by a culture of live.
DWFD will be greatly expanding other activities at the festival as well. The much-improved children’s area will feature a children’s stage, with scheduled entertainment throughout the evening. There will also be bounce houses, a craft area and more.
This year, DWFD is thrilled to present the platinum, chart-topping alternative-rock band Blue October. Currently on The Sway Tour, Blue October is best known for their smash hits “Hate Me” and “Into the Ocean”. Attendees can look forward to them performing songs from their newest album, Sway, along with old favorites.
Opening for Blue October will be Cody Canada and The Departed. Cody Canada and Jeremy Plato, former lead singer and bassist of the top-40 red dirt band Cross Canadian Ragweed, joined forces with Steve Littleton and Chris Doege in 2011, and have since released their first album, Adventus. Not only will they be performing new, original tunes, but they will be revisiting popular picks from their Cross Canadian Ragweed days.
Rounding out the outdoor musicians will be Irish folk singer Martin Byrnes. Originally from the beautiful village of Castleconnel, Ireland, Martin has received international critical acclaim for his album, A True Born Irishman. He will kick off the event in true Irish spirit with his mixture of Irish ballads and traditional music. On the inside stage, local favorites Miyagi and AA Bottom will keep the crowd going all night long.
Get your green on and come downtown to the festival! A celebration of St. Patrick and all things green kicks off the afternoon of March 15 and lasts until the evening with traditional music, hearty foods and celebration.
The annual street festival, presented by Downtown Wichita Falls Development Center Inc., promotes downtown with some Irish culture provided by The Iron Horse Pub.
Gates open at 4:30pm to 10:30pm on the corner of 8th and Indiana in historic downtown Wichita Falls.