Crowds and Sun Greet the Saint Patrick’s Day Parade

The annual Saint Patrick’s Day Parade celebrating all things Irish rolled down Gay Street on Saturday. The sun, which didn’t seem assured just hours before the parade, shined down beautifully on large crowds lining both sides of our most celebrated throughway. Families with children in tow, couples and just about everyone imaginable joined the fun and claimed their Irishness, if only for a day.

Of course, it’s not an Irish parade without the bagpipes and the Knoxville Pipes and Drums led the charge. It’s a confounding instrument with potential to be grating or powerfully moving, but always perfect for a march. Our local group impresses every time out.

I enjoyed the crowds about as much as the parade, with lots of people decked out in their green, some more outlandishly than others. Beads, hats, lots of sparkling sequins and an occasional inexplicable get-up made it all more fun. As always, the children, some decked in green by their parents, stole the show. I loved the little guy handing out flags along the route.

The floats, by and large, remain solid, as they have in past years. Hats off to the groups that put in the effort to ride in more than a trailer or truck bed. Other fancy rides mingled in the mix, like sports cars, smart cars, golf carts, a garbage truck and more. The Shriners had their go-carts and mini bikes. A number of utility vehicles joined, a couple of them hoisting revelers well above the crowd.

County commissioner Larson Jay sported a classic pickup truck, while Jane George (running for U.S. House) cruised in a pink jeep fit for Barbie herself. Tennessee State Representative Gloria Johnson styled along in a Alfa Romeo convertible. As always, lots more Democrats than Republicans in the parade and I still don’t understand. I heard a smattering of boos when the Biden/Harris sign rolled by.

The marchers included baton twirlers, fairies, and Saint Patrick himself. Not a few leprechaun’s joined the mix and Knoxville’s own Buckateers joined the revelry. Floats included lots of action, as well. Traditional dancers stepped along on one float, while stationary cyclers on another had to be exhausted by the time they could stop spinning. A pole dancer entertained the crowds from another float as she practiced her aerobic acrobatics well above the masses.

The fun continued into the night and through the weekend from the World’s Fair Park and into the Old City. Irish or not, fun was had, and the season of parades and festivals has just begun.

These shots are a few of my favorites, but the full group is included below. As always, click to enlarge. And enjoy.