(Minghui.org) The 67th Detroit St. Patrick’s Parade was held in Corktown on the afternoon of March 16, 2025. Nearly 100,000 spectators watched the parade. The parade included floats, marching bands, honor guards, and other performances. Officials such as Deputy Mayor Mary Linehan Foley from Ireland also attended the event, which was hosted by the United Irish Societies to celebrate Irish culture and promote community unity.
One of the largest St. Patrick’s Day parades in the United States, the parade started off in Corktown, went down Michigan Ave., past the site of the former Tiger Stadium, St. Paul’s Catholic Church and Michigan Central Station, which are local, historic landmarks. One of the oldest communities in Detroit, Corktown is famous for its 19th-century Irish immigrant history and well-preserved Victorian buildings.
Falun Dafa Group Welcomed
The Michigan Falun Dafa Association participated in the event and introduced the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance to the local community. Practitioners from Michigan, Ohio, and Windsor, Canada, drew people’s attention, and their precise formations and powerful traditional Tang drum performances added joy to the festivities.
Practitioners doing the Falun Dafa (Falun Gong) exercises before the parade begins
People came from Canada and the surrounding suburbs to celebrate the popular annual event. They applauded, took photos, and waved to practitioners. Many thanked practitioners for participating in the parade. They accepted the leaflets about Falun Dafa, expressed their agreement with the messages on the banners such as “The World Needs Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance,” and clapped along with the rhythmic Tang drums. One spectator shouted to practitioners, “Your team is so beautiful. I really like it!”
Practitioners participate in the 67th Detroit St. Patrick’s Parade on March 16.
A spectator greets practitioners with a Falun Dafa flyer.
People took flyers about Falun Gong.
People accept flyers about Falun Dafa.
The Falun Dafa procession catches the attention of invited guests on the viewing stage.
Fortunate to Have Falun Gong Group in the Parade
“We just finished the 67th Detroit St. Patrick’s Day Parade. It is a great day with a great turnout,” said Mike Kelly, president of the United Irish Societies in Detroit and chairman of the Detroit St. Patrick’s Parade. “It is a warm, family-friendly event, where we celebrate our Irish heritage and honor the patron saint of Ireland, St. Patrick.”
Mike Kelly, president of the United Irish Societies in Detroit
Mike also said, “We are honored to have the Falun Gong group participate in the parade with us today. I remember that they participated in the parade before, but their performance this year was very outstanding. The community residents really liked their performance, especially the music and drums, which were very enjoyable.”
It’s Meaningful to Participate in the Parade
Mary, a Falun Dafa practitioner of Irish descent, was in the first row of the Tang drum formation. She said, “I am proud to be one-quarter Irish. I grew up with an Irish Catholic grandmother who was full of tenacity, strength, and faith. I think this strength and faith are deeply rooted in our Irish people. For Irish people in the United States, St. Patrick’s Day is one of the grandest celebrations. One of my earliest childhood memories is about St. Patrick’s Day.”
Mary said that, although she had countless good memories of St. Patrick’s Day over the years, she’d never before participated in a St. Patrick’s Day parade. It was very meaningful for her to be able to personally participate in the St. Patrick’s parade in Detroit this year, especially because she walked with the Michigan Falun Dafa group.
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