The Valley Community Association will formally announce their selections for the Grand Marshal and Parade Dedications for the 25th Annual “Old Neighborhood” St. Patrick’s Day Parade at their Fundraiser Party on Saturday, March 10th, 2018. The party will be held at the Valley Center located at 93 Leddy Street, Buffalo, near the junction of South Park Avenue and Elk Street from 7pm-11pm. The cost is just $20 per person and includes admission, draft beer, and pop. Canned beer and wine will also be available for sale. Tickets will be available at the door.

Entertainment at the Fundraiser Party will be provided by lively Irish band “Emerald Isle”. “Emerald Isle” is a trio of musicians from Western New York who specialize in sing-along, clap-along Irish pub music and rousing nautical songs and sea chanties. They mix their music with humor provided mostly by the band's bass player, Rich Schaefer. The other members of the band are Chris and Mark Panfil and between them they play, guitar, bass, fiddle, mandolin, accordion, penny whistle, harmonicas, banjos, and bodhran.

The 2018 “Old Neighborhood” St. Patrick’s Day Parade Grand Marshal is James “Jim” Sumbrum Sr. and he will lead the parade through the historic streets of the Valley and Old First Ward neighborhoods, retracing portions of the original 1913 parade route. Jim is a lifelong resident of the Old First Ward and long time volunteer for the Valley Community Association.

This year the parade will be dedicated in memory of three very special people who passed away this past year that were part of the “Old Neighborhood”. Mike Harrington, a First Ward kid who married a Valley girl, was the manager at Tops and always remembered his beloved neighborhoods. Also honored this year will be Bob Bouquard whose son Zachary was part of the Valley Community Association youth programs and who supported many Valley fundraisers including the annual golf tournament. Paul Simonick, an avid supporter of the Valley Community Association, will also be honored.

The 25th Annual “Old Neighborhood” St. Patrick’s Day Parade is scheduled for Saturday, March 17th and will kick off at 12 Noon. New groups are welcome to march and can obtain registration forms by calling Lori at 823-4707 ext. 4. Following the parade there will be grand Irish Hooley at the Valley Center with live Irish music by “Emerald Isle” as well as food and refreshments. 

For more information about any of the Valley’s St. Patrick’s Day festivities, call Lori at 716-823-4707 ext.4 or visit www.thevalleycenter.com. Also make sure to “like” the Valley Community Center on Facebook and follow the organization on Twitter @VCAssociation and Instagram @valleycommunitycenter.