THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, March 9, 1995 TAG: 9503070078
SECTION: NORFOLK COMPASS PAGE: 02 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY SCOTT McCASKEY, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 91 lines
Ghent will be noticeably greener and louder this St. Patrick's Day as Norfolk Festevents' St. Patrick's Day Celebration comes to 21st and Manteo streets.
Dubbed the ``Greening of Ghent,'' the Irish-style block party will be centered on a stage in the parking lot behind the Nancy Chandler Building from 5 to 8 p.m. March 17. Festivities will include live music, food and beverages.
The move to Ghent is at the behest of merchants and a shift in focus by Festevents.
``We decided to come to Ghent because the merchants expressed so much interest,'' said Rebecca Bump, Festevents' marketing director. ``We're also making a push to expand our venues into Norfolk neighborhoods.''
Festevents' last St. Paddy's celebration was held at Town Point Park in 1992 but was canceled in 1993 and '94 due to a lack of sponsorship. Guinness Import Co. came on as the major supporter this year.
``I think the move is an excellent idea,'' said Claus Ihlemann, president of the Ghent Business Association. ``It's a natural. Ghent has a lot of character and plenty of restaurants and places to go afterward.''
Ghent merchants will feature promotions and specials throughout the week.
Festevents, which produces entertainment programs for the city, expects more than 1,500 revelers. Music will be provided by Celtica and the Barflys. There were will be numerous food and beverage vendors.
To help notify the public of the event, Maury High School students are hanging giant shamrocks around the neighborhood. If the party is a success, it could stay in Ghent permanently, said Deb Hickman, marketing assistant.
``We'll have to see what goes on and evaluate for the future,'' Hickman said.
The day after Ghent's first St. Patrick's Day event, Ocean View hosts what is thought to be one of the day's largest parades on the East Coast. More than 50,000 spectators and 5,000 participants are expected for the 28th annual Knights of Columbus St. Patrick's Day Parade on March 18.
``I think it's the fourth largest St. Patrick's parade on the East Coast,'' said Robert Bayliss, president of the West Ocean View Civic League.
The colorful march will proceed along Ocean View Avenue from 10 a.m. until noon. Military and high school bands, Shriners processions and Boy Scout troops are among 200 parade units from around the state.
``It's Ocean View's biggest event of the year,'' said Nabbie John of the parade committee. ``Everyone turns out. The whole neighborhood opens up.''
Floats and marching bands aren't the only conspicuous attractions.
The affair usually draws some local legislators and city officials doing a little politicking, Bayliss said. Retired Circuit Court Judge Phil Russo is this year's grand marshal.
The parade was founded and is sponsored by the Knights of Columbus Council in Ocean View, a chapter of the national Catholic fraternal organization. Trophies will be presented in a variety of categories following the parade at the review stand near the Knights' hall at 211 Government Ave. An open house at the hall, with live music, food and drink, will be held throughout the afternoon. Numerous other open houses will be held around the neighborhood.
Parade entries are $25 for corporate units and free for non-profit groups. The deadline is March 16. For more information, call the Knights hall at 587-3548.
The city will show its silly side when the fourth annual Doo Dah Parade bungles down Main Street from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. March 31.
In a tribute to April Fool's Day and as a break from business-as-usual, outrageous to ridiculous paraders will flaunt foolishness in high form. Past acts have included the Marching Elvises, the Pooper Scooper Brigade and the Nasty Boys, a drill team of sanitation workers donned in coveralls beating on trash-can tops.
``It adds some lightheartedness to everyday life,'' said Rebecca Bump, marketing director for Festevents, which puts on the show.
More than 4,000 spectators and 500 participants are anticipated. The ``coveted'' Fool's Cup Award will be presented to the best-in-show in a commercial and non-commercial category. The presentation will be in front of the ``Johnny Reb'' statue at 1:30.
New for this year is the ``Play It Again Sam'' marching band conducted by Joann Falletta, conductor for the Virginia Symphony. Wanna-be players will meet in front of the World Trade Center at 11:30.
This year's grand marshal - as in '94 - is Lawrence Maddry, columnist for The Virginian-Pilot and The Ledger-Star. He will be sharing the dubious title with a first-ever Doo Dah Dawg of Destiny. The pup, Katie McRae, a West Highland terrier from Portsmouth, was selected by a special Doo Dah committee from a field of more than 100 animals.
Begun in 1992, Norfolk's Doo Dah Parade is modeled after the Doo Dah ceremony held in Pasadena, Calif., an annual spoof on the Rose Bowl Parade.
Parade entry fees are $10. The deadline is Friday. For more information, call Festevents at 441-2345. by CNB