Limerick has the largest St. Patrick’s Day Parade by participant numbers and is strongly community based. Some 70,000 persons view the parade, making it the biggest on-street annual event in the city and county.

The International Band Championship is the longest running in Ireland and attracts numerous international bands to compete. It is held on the Sunday nearest St. Patrick’s Day and some 35,000-40,000 line the route.

Limerick has created and developed the Riverfest festival over the past 10 years approximately, so that it has become a festival of importance locally and regionally. The festival re-located to a more central location in 2013, which has proved highly successful. The festival runs over four days on the May bank holiday weekend, in a number of locations in the city centre.

For the past four years Limerick, in conjunction with other cities nationally, has hosted a multi-faith commemoration ceremony to honour all Irishmen and Irishwomen who died in past wars or on service with the United Nations.

Africa Day falls on 25th May each year. It is an initiative of the African Union, and aims to celebrate African diversity and success and the cultural and economic potential of the continent. In Ireland, events to mark Africa Day are supported by Irish Aid, the Government’s programme for overseas development.

To mark the start of the Christmas festivities in Limerick the Council traditionally stages a lighting-up event. The event involves the erection of: a Main Stage to accommodate dignitaries; podiums; sound system and equipment, musical entertainment etc.

This Lot applies to events of a once-off nature such as civic receptions, freedom of Limerick conferrals, honouring sporting and other achievements of note, occasional events.