Five Points Foundation Wraps Up 33rd Annual St. Pat’s in Five Points
March 16, 2015
COLUMBIA, SC – On Saturday, March 14, 2015, Five Points welcomed just under 30,000 people to their perennial St. Pat’s in Five Points celebration. Festival staff attributes lower attendance numbers, compared to the 2014 festival, to rainy, cold conditions in the morning and early afternoon. An event breakdown is below:
- Get To the Green 10K, 5K and 1-mile Family Fun Run had 2,100 entries. The race started at Maxcy Gregg Park and ended on Devine Street. New for 2015, the race ceremonies were hosted at the Martin Luther King Park.
- St. Pat’s Parade had 76 units register and approximately 50 floats participate in the annual musical mile down Devine Street. Many entries reflected the birthday theme as Five Points and local radio station, WXRY, both celebrate momentous birthdays in 2015.
- The Wells Fargo Pot O’ Gold Playland welcome children throughout the day in Martin Luther King Park to enjoy free family-friendly entertainment, carnival rides, a petting zoo and more.
- Over 15 bands and DJs played on five stages all day long.
- The festival’s four food court locations were home to over 15 local food vendors, providing patrons a wide variety of local eats.
- St. Pat’s Saluda’s VIP Experience sold out weeks before the festival.
- New for 2015 – “The Cube” serviced hundreds of people all day long, handing out programs, charging people’s cell phones and answer their festival questions.
- St. Pat’s Transportation Services, including shuttles and the Checker Yellow free cab ride home program, were successful, proving thousands of patrons complimentary convenient and safe rides.
- On Sunday, March 15, festival staff and dozens of volunteers worked hard to clean up Five Points and the surrounding neighborhoods.
- Despite rainy, cold conditions, hundreds of volunteers from local non-profits and charitable organizations from across the Midlands came to help executive another successful year for the festival. A press conference will be held in early April to recognize these groups for their dedication.
St. Pat’s in Five Points wouldn’t be possible without the generous support of businesses across the Midlands: KW Beverage, Beverage South, Wells Fargo, Checker Yellow Cab, Greens Beverage, Select Health, Southern Wine & Spirits, Blue Cross Blue Shield, TD Bank, Whole Foods, The Fountain Division of W.P. Law, T-Mobile, Graph-itti Tees, Celebrations, BB&T, Grow Financial, South Carolina Army National Guard, Go Columbia, CitiScooter, City of Columbia, Five Points Association, Free Times, 104.7 WNOK, 99.3 WXRY, 97.5 WCOS, 92.1 The Palm, Fox 102.3, 107.5 The Game, Cola Daily, Grace Outdoor, and Jam Room.
At this time, some festival information cannot yet be finalized, including but not limited to recycling data, Columbia Police Department report and charitable contributions. Photos from the festival will be on our website, www.StPatsColumbia.com, in the coming weeks.
