Courtesy photo The Altoona-based Keystone Regiment Drum & Bugle Corps will march in the St. Patrick’s Day “Luck of the Irish” parade at 2 p.m. March 17 in Tyrone.

Keystone Regiment to march in ‘Luck of the Irish’ parade

TYRONE — Tyrone’s Irish Heritage Festival will be held March 16 to 18 in the Northern Blair County community.

WTAJ-TV’s Anchor Colleen Nelson has accepted the invitation to serve as Irish Ambassador. Nelson will help kick off the event with the annual Lighting of the Shamrock at 6 p.m. March 16.

Nelson will assist Mayor Bill Latchford with the reading of the borough’s proclamation, and then proceed to the Tyrone-Snyder Public Library for the Irish storytime during the library’s Barney Family Fun Blast.

Starting at 6:30 p.m., the Celtic Martin Family Band returns to in Tyrone after a few years to bring Irish dancing and music to the stage. The Martins will conclude their music at 8:30 p.m., followed by the annual fireworks celebration.

Saturday morning kicks off with the Irish 5K Race sponsored by Joshua House at 8:30 a.m. Registration begins at 7:30 a.m.

The Celtic Martin Family Band will take the stage again at 10 a.m. during the opening of all the street vendors.

The Tyrone library will also have a rummage sale from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and the Tyrone History Mu-seum will have Irish ex-hibits from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

“A Magical Experience” is also returning to Tyrone to perform magic shows at noon at Hotel City Park.

At 2 p.m., the “Luck of the Irish Parade” will move through the streets of the borough with Nelson at the forefront as parade ambassador.

A special guest performance will be made by the Keystone Regiment Drum & Bugle Corps of Altoona.

The corps is affiliated with the Hope Fire Com-pany of Northern Cambria and makes several parade appearances throughout the area every year.

Organized in 1985, the Keystone Regiment is a parade and standstill unit.

Performing on traditional G bugles, the corps plays a mix of traditional patriotic American music, classic rock and crowd favorites.

The Keystone Regiment draws its membership

from Blair, Cambria, Clearfield, Huntingdon

and Indiana counties.

It is an all-age unit with members ranging from junior high school students to adults. Several sets of parents and children perform with the regiment.

The weekend festival will come to a close on Sunday evening when an Irish Worship Service is held at Church of the Good Shepherd at 7 p.m.

It is also the last day for the Irish exhibits at the History Museum. Hours are 1 to 4 p.m.

For more information, call Rose at the Tyrone Chamber at 684-0736.