2009 Parade Poster Winner

2009 Parade Poster

Paul Anthony Alonso First Poster Contest Winner for the Allentown St. Patrick’s Parade

Paul Anthony Alonso is a 5th Grade Student at St. Joseph the Worker in Orefield, PA

Parade to be held March 22, 2009 throughout Allentown’s West End

February 21, 2009 (Allentown, PA) The Allentown St. Patrick’s Parade Committee, Inc. announced today that the winner of the first poster contest is Paul Anthony Alonso, a fifth grade student at St. Joseph the Worker Catholic School in Orefield, PA. Alonso’s work will be featured on the 2009 Allentown St. Patrick’s Parade Program Book as well as a poster to be hung around the Lehigh Valley advertising the Parade. The 2009 Allentown St. Patrick’s Parade will be held March 22, 2009 at 1:30 pm through the West End of Allentown, PA.

The Poster Contest was open to artists of all ages and had to artistically express the theme of the Parade and sponsored by local event planning and public relations firm, Potential Factor, LLC. In addition to Alonso’s first place showing, Thomas Kleppinger and Bridget Stein, both fifth grade students at St. Thomas More School in Allentown, PA placed second and third respectively.

Alonso is the ten year old son of Paul and Aneta Alonso of Kempton, PA. Encouraged by his parents and art teacher, Loretta Marrone to participate in the contest, Alonso said “I am proud to be a part of the beautiful holiday!” In addition to art, Alonso is well traveled having been to Poland, Barbados, Hawaii, Canada and Florida, is first in a math completion being held at St. Joseph the Worker, and loves to read. Alonso and his family will lead the school in a horse drawn wagon as part of the Parade festivities and will be participating in the Parade’s Media Night scheduled for March 3, 2009 from 6 pm to 8 pm at Jack Callaghan’s Ale House. Jack Callaghan’s Ale House is located at 2027 Tilghman Street, Allentown, PA 18104.

“The parade has a 52 year history in the community, and by encouraging the children in the Lehigh Valley to participate in the contest and the parade itself, it teaches them about the history of the holiday and where they live.” states Paul’s mother, Aneta.

“The Committee has sought out new ways to engage the community in the 2009 Parade and the poster contest will be one that continues to grow in the future.” states John Chaya, Chair of the 2009 Allentown St. Patrick’s Parade. “Our children are our future and by allowing them to take part in the Parade, whether it be walking in the Parade or participating in something such as the Poster Contest, it gives them an opportunity to be an active member of the community and brings their families into Allentown to enjoy this piece of Lehigh Valley history now in its 52nd year.” concludes Chaya.

Parade Route:

The parade will form at the Allentown fairgrounds track near the Liberty and Seventeenth Streets gate (Main Gate vicinity). The parade will proceed west on Liberty, turn north on 19th Street, West on Tilghman to 25th Street, south on 25th Street to Liberty Street, then east on Liberty Street and disband at the Fairgrounds 19th Street gate.

Massed Bands Exhibition

March 22
Immediately following the Parade on the corner of Utica St. and N Albright Ave.

Edward and Phyllis Ellwood to serve as King and
Queen of 2009 St. Patrick’s Parade

November 14, 2008 (Allentown, PA) The Allentown
St. Patrick’s Parade Committee announced today that Edward and Phyllis Ellwood
of Allentown, PA have been named the 2009 King and Queen of the Allentown St.
Patrick’s Parade.  The Allentown St. Patrick’s Parade is to be held March 22,
2009 throughout the West End of Allentown, PA.

The Ellwoods will be married 10 years in 2009 and have five children, Julia,
Wade, Eddie, Erica, and Kimberly and one granddaughter, Brooklyn.  In 2001 they
made a trip to Ireland and are active in the community.  Edward is a member of
the Ancient Order of Hibernians, Lehigh County Division I, is a member of the
Allentown St. Patrick’s Parade Committee this year, and assists with funeral
masses at Immaculate Conception parish.  Phyllis, in addition to working
full-time, is active in the parish with “anything and everything”.

The Ellwoods both have fond memories of the Parade growing up and have continued
to support the Parade in the present. Edward retired from Bethlehem Steel after
32 years and Phyllis serves as the controller and corporate treasurer for RJ
Skelding where she has worked since 1984.  Phyllis grew up in Emmaus and Edward
in Allentown.  Both are members of Immaculate Conception Roman Catholic Church,
the original starting point of the Allentown St. Patrick’s Parade.

“Edward always talks to me about his memories of the Parade growing up.” states
Phyllis.  “The preview stand was at Immaculate Conception Church.  We would go
over to church for the benediction, the Knights of Columbus used to be there,
every club in the 6^th  ward was open, and everyone would go in to one
of the clubs for a drink and then watch the Parade.  Everyone in town was
Irish!” continues Edward.

“The Parade was all anyone talked about.  There were cook-outs on the sidewalks,
people were out and about in the clubs, the city was a big party, yet there were
not problems.  Last year’s parade reminded me of what I had growing up, and it
is wonderful to see that coming back again.” explains Edward.

“The Ellwoods are a perfect representation of the Allentown St. Patrick’s
Parade.  They spent their youth attending the Parade and remember what it
brought to the people of Allentown, and today they support the Parade’s efforts
to bring that feeling back to the city.” states John Chaya, Chair of the 2009
Allentown St. Patrick’s Parade.

It was always my dream
to be the King of the St. Patrick’s Parade! I never thought it would happen!”
exclaims Edward.

 

 

We are pleased to announce that the Allentown St. Patrick’s Parade will march down the streets of Allentown, Pennsylvania for a 52nd year on March 22, 2009. The first known St. Patrick's Parade was held in Allentown in the late 1860's. Over a century later, in 1955, what we know as the modern day Allentown St. Patrick’s Day Parade was organized by business and political leaders through the St. Patrick’s Day Observance Society. The Parade ran from 12th and Hamilton Streets to the Immaculate Conception Church on Ridge Avenue. In 2009 the Parade will consist of seven divisions that will march down the streets of Allentown’s West End.

The Parade is presented by a committee of volunteers who work alongside the Ancient Order of Hibernians (AOH), Lehigh County Division1, and the Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians (LAOH), Lehigh County Division 17. The AOH/LAOH is a 501(c)3 whose mission is to raise money for local children’s charities.

In order for the Allentown St. Patrick’s Parade to march in Allentown each year, community events are held, and support by Lehigh Valley businesses through sponsorships and program book provide the funds to offset the costs of the Parade. We have provided the Corporate Sponsor Package and Program Ad Book details below. All proceeds from our sponsorships will support the future of the Allentown St. Patrick’s Parade.

We look forward to your participation in the Allentown St. Patrick’s Parade and thank you for your support.

Click to download a pdf version of the Parade Sponsor Package

“In Kind” refers to donations of goods instead of cash.
Click to download a pdf version of the In Kind Donation Form

The 2009 Allentown St. Patrick’s Parade is sponsoring a poster contest to create the 2009 Parade poster!

The winning entry will have their poster displayed throughout Allentown and the Lehigh Valley and featured on the cover of the 2009 Parade Program Book!

What makes this poster contest special is that it is the first of its kind for the Allentown St. Patrick’s Parade!

Click to download a pdf version of the Poster rules and information