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Celebrating Irish culture in the heart of Bristol on St Patrick’s Day: W.E. Irish Culture Fest

Celebrating Irish culture in the heart of Bristol through live music, dance and more.

31/03/2024

This March, Bristol’s city centre was transformed into a lively celebration of Irish heritage as the W.E. Irish Culture Fest took over with its much-anticipated St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Street Party shindig. Held on St Patrick’s Day, Saturday 17th March 2024, the festival featured a parade from the M-Shed to St. Nicks, creating an atmosphere brimming with music, dance and community spirit.

This year’s festival, supported by our Enhance and Promote Fund, attracted significant attention both locally and online. The event saw massive reach across social media, with over 37,600 people engaging on Facebook and 3,400 on Instagram. The top post alone reached over 8,600 users, reflecting the widespread appeal of the event. 

The festival generated a substantial buzz, with extensive media coverage contributing to a reach of over 2.65 billion people across online, print and broadcast channels. Local media, including BBC Radio Bristol, Radio Gloucestershire and others, featured interviews with event organisers, bringing Bristol’s celebration to the forefront of the region’s cultural calendar.

A boost for Bristol’s businesses

Bristol’s businesses benefited significantly from the event. 15 local businesses, including those in hospitality and the night-time economy, saw a marked increase in footfall and turnover. One business owner shared how their typical Sunday revenue, usually between £350-500, skyrocketed to £7,000 during the festivities.

A week-long celebration with Fringe events

The festival also featured a week of fringe events from Saturday 10th – Saturday 17th March, including dance, music, walking tours, quizzes and more. With 28 fringe events supported by W.E. Irish, venues such as Watershed, Thekla and Arnolfini participated in bringing diverse cultural experiences to life. These events drew an estimated 8,000 attendees, further embedding the spirit of Irish culture throughout the city.

The W.E. Irish Culture Fest is testament to Bristol’s vibrant cultural scene and commitment to fostering community engagement. With this year’s event a massive success, next year’s event promises to be even bigger.

For more information and to stay updated on upcoming events, follow W.E. Irish or visit their website.

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