2015 Atlanta St. Patrick’s Parade

Saturday, March 14, 2015

St. Patrick’s Day is tomorrow but that hasn’t stopped the good people of Atlanta from celebrating already. Saturday was the annual Atlanta St. Patrick’s Parade that had thousands of people standing along Peachtree St. in downtown as people marched, played, twirled and danced their way down the street. The parade dates back to 1858 and has not missed a single year except for World War I and World War II. This year even Ireland’s Prime Minister, Enda Kenny, made an appearance as the grand marshal as well as Anne Anderson, the Irish Ambassador to the U.S. There were Irish dancers, bagpipe players, drummers, marching bands, floats, canine rescue groups, fire engines, members of the Hibernian Benevolent Society, fiddle players, even llamas. For an hour and a half they made their way through downtown with the sounds of music and cheering echoing off of the skyscrapers.

I really enjoy a good parade, especially one that involves a little merriment and rowdiness. St. Patrick’s Day usually brings that out a little more than on your typical day. I have really fond memories of living in Massachusetts and traveling into Boston to see the parade in Southie. Both in snow and 70 degree weather, the parade and the people watching made the trip. Atlanta is really the only parade to rival those memories. The sea of green as people packed the street to watch on Saturday brought on a little nostalgia as I snapped photos and thought about my time in New England.

Bailey McDuff (right) pulls a wagon as she waits for the start of the 2015 Atlanta St. Patrick's Parade on Saturday, March 14, 2015.

Bailey McDuff (right) pulls a wagon as she waits for the start of the 2015 Atlanta St. Patrick’s Parade on Saturday, March 14, 2015.

Ashton Keith (center) blows his trumpet as he waits for the start of the 2015 Atlanta St. Patrick's Parade on Saturday, March 14, 2015.

Ashton Keith (center) blows his trumpet as he waits for the start of the 2015 Atlanta St. Patrick’s Parade on Saturday, March 14, 2015.

Nora MacLeod (left) sits on her grandmother Marilyn Adams' lap as they talk with Bell the Clown as they wait for the start of the 2015 Atlanta St. Patrick's Parade on Saturday, March 14, 2015.

Nora MacLeod (left) sits on her grandmother Marilyn Adams’ lap as they talk with Bell the Clown as they wait for the start of the 2015 Atlanta St. Patrick’s Parade on Saturday, March 14, 2015.

Peter Brusa (left) talks with Richard Morgan as they wait for the start of the 2015 Atlanta St. Patrick's Parade on Saturday, March 14, 2015.

Peter Brusa (left) talks with Richard Morgan as they wait for the start of the 2015 Atlanta St. Patrick’s Parade on Saturday, March 14, 2015.

Don Bogue (center) leads the Atholl Highlanders Pipes & Drums down Peachtree St. during the 2015 Atlanta St. Patrick's Parade on Saturday, March 14, 2015.

Don Bogue (center) leads the Atholl Highlanders Pipes & Drums down Peachtree St. during the 2015 Atlanta St. Patrick’s Parade on Saturday, March 14, 2015.

Janice Summers (left) plays the bagpipes as she marches down Peachtree St. during the 2015 Atlanta St. Patrick's Parade on Saturday, March 14, 2015.

Janice Summers (left) plays the bagpipes as she marches down Peachtree St. during the 2015 Atlanta St. Patrick’s Parade on Saturday, March 14, 2015.

Enda Kenny, Ireland's Prime Minister, waves to the crowd during the 2015 Atlanta St. Patrick's Parade on Saturday, March 14, 2015.

Enda Kenny, Ireland’s Prime Minister, waves to the crowd during the 2015 Atlanta St. Patrick’s Parade on Saturday, March 14, 2015.

Imani Brown (left) rides in a horse drawn stage coach down Peachtree St. during the 2015 Atlanta St. Patrick's Parade on Saturday, March 14, 2015.

Imani Brown (left) rides in a horse drawn stage coach down Peachtree St. during the 2015 Atlanta St. Patrick’s Parade on Saturday, March 14, 2015.

Shatoya Teague (center) marches down Peachtree St. during the 2015 Atlanta St. Patrick's Parade on Saturday, March 14, 2015.

Shatoya Teague (center) marches down Peachtree St. during the 2015 Atlanta St. Patrick’s Parade on Saturday, March 14, 2015.

Alison Recknagel (center) twirls her drum sticks as she marches down Peachtree St. during the 2015 Atlanta St. Patrick's Parade on Saturday, March 14, 2015.

Alison Recknagel (center) twirls her drum sticks as she marches down Peachtree St. during the 2015 Atlanta St. Patrick’s Parade on Saturday, March 14, 2015.

Anne Anderson, Irish Ambassador to the United States, waves to the crowd during the 2015 Atlanta St. Patrick's Parade on Saturday, March 14, 2015.

Anne Anderson, Irish Ambassador to the United States, waves to the crowd during the 2015 Atlanta St. Patrick’s Parade on Saturday, March 14, 2015.

Fulton County Chairman John Eaves (right) waves to the crowd as he rides down Peachtree St. during the 2015 Atlanta St. Patrick's Parade on Saturday, March 14, 2015.

Fulton County Chairman John Eaves (right) waves to the crowd as he rides down Peachtree St. during the 2015 Atlanta St. Patrick’s Parade on Saturday, March 14, 2015.

Kathryn Steele (left) dances down Peachtree St. during the 2015 Atlanta St. Patrick's Parade on Saturday, March 14, 2015.

Kathryn Steele (left) dances down Peachtree St. during the 2015 Atlanta St. Patrick’s Parade on Saturday, March 14, 2015.

Katherine Fisher (left), Courtney Docherly and Claudia Decredico dance down Peachtree St. during the 2015 Atlanta St. Patrick's Parade on Saturday, March 14, 2015.

Katherine Fisher (left), Courtney Docherly and Claudia Decredico dance down Peachtree St. during the 2015 Atlanta St. Patrick’s Parade on Saturday, March 14, 2015.

Tom Frizzi (right) marches down Peachtree St. during the 2015 Atlanta St. Patrick's Parade on Saturday, March 14, 2015.

Tom Frizzi (right) marches down Peachtree St. during the 2015 Atlanta St. Patrick’s Parade on Saturday, March 14, 2015.

Simon Butterworth (center) plays his snare drum as he marches down Peachtree St. during the 2015 Atlanta St. Patrick's Parade on Saturday, March 14, 2015.

Simon Butterworth (center) plays his snare drum as he marches down Peachtree St. during the 2015 Atlanta St. Patrick’s Parade on Saturday, March 14, 2015.

Ryder White (left) tries to keep Pearl, a golden retriever, from getting into his snack during the 2015 Atlanta St. Patrick's Parade on Saturday, March 14, 2015.

Ryder White (left) tries to keep Pearl, a golden retriever, from getting into his snack during the 2015 Atlanta St. Patrick’s Parade on Saturday, March 14, 2015.

Madeline Dierauf plays a fiddle as she rides on a float during the 2015 Atlanta St. Patrick's Parade on Saturday, March 14, 2015.

Madeline Dierauf plays a fiddle as she rides on a float during the 2015 Atlanta St. Patrick’s Parade on Saturday, March 14, 2015.

Karl Drake (center) leads his dancers down Peachtree St. during the 2015 Atlanta St. Patrick's Parade on Saturday, March 14, 2015.

Karl Drake (center) leads his dancers down Peachtree St. during the 2015 Atlanta St. Patrick’s Parade on Saturday, March 14, 2015.

Pat Egan (standing left) waves to the crowd from a float during the 2015 Atlanta St. Patrick's Parade on Saturday, March 14, 2015.

Pat Egan (standing left) waves to the crowd from a float during the 2015 Atlanta St. Patrick’s Parade on Saturday, March 14, 2015.

Hannah Ellers (left) and her sister Sadie lead their llama Diego down Peachtree St. during the 2015 Atlanta St. Patrick's Parade on Saturday, March 14, 2015.

Hannah Ellers (left) and her sister Sadie lead their llama Diego down Peachtree St. during the 2015 Atlanta St. Patrick’s Parade on Saturday, March 14, 2015.

A llama named Tonka follows his owner Astrid Lyons down Peachtree St. during the 2015 Atlanta St. Patrick's Parade on Saturday, March 14, 2015.

A llama named Tonka follows his owner Astrid Lyons down Peachtree St. during the 2015 Atlanta St. Patrick’s Parade on Saturday, March 14, 2015.

Daniel Bollinger plays the bagpipes as he marches down Peachtree St. during the 2015 Atlanta St. Patrick's Parade on Saturday, March 14, 2015.

Daniel Bollinger plays the bagpipes as he marches down Peachtree St. during the 2015 Atlanta St. Patrick’s Parade on Saturday, March 14, 2015.

Sydnee Lewand (center) dances with Tricia McLeer down Peachtree St. during the 2015 Atlanta St. Patrick's Parade on Saturday, March 14, 2015.

Sydnee Lewand (center) dances with Tricia McLeer down Peachtree St. during the 2015 Atlanta St. Patrick’s Parade on Saturday, March 14, 2015.

Emma Kelly (right) holds an Irish flag as she rides in a wagon down Peachtree St. during the 2015 Atlanta St. Patrick's Parade on Saturday, March 14, 2015.

Emma Kelly (right) holds an Irish flag as she rides in a wagon down Peachtree St. during the 2015 Atlanta St. Patrick’s Parade on Saturday, March 14, 2015.

Nora Rosenfeld (right) hands William McCullough a string of beads as she walks with other Girl Scouts down Peachtree St. during the 2015 Atlanta St. Patrick's Parade on Saturday, March 14, 2015.

Nora Rosenfeld (right) hands William McCullough a string of beads as she walks with other Girl Scouts down Peachtree St. during the 2015 Atlanta St. Patrick’s Parade on Saturday, March 14, 2015.

Mia Rosario (center) and Falyn Handley wave to the crowd as they ride a float down Peachtree St. during the 2015 Atlanta St. Patrick's Parade on Saturday, March 14, 2015.

Mia Rosario (center) and Falyn Handley wave to the crowd as they ride a float down Peachtree St. during the 2015 Atlanta St. Patrick’s Parade on Saturday, March 14, 2015.

Wearing a kilt, two-year-old Michael Rumsey watches as the 2015 Atlanta St. Patrick's Parade makes its way down Peachtree St. on Saturday, March 14, 2015.

Wearing a kilt, two-year-old Michael Rumsey watches as the 2015 Atlanta St. Patrick’s Parade makes its way down Peachtree St. on Saturday, March 14, 2015.

Kelvin Quiroh (center) beats on his drum as he marches down Peachtree St. during the 2015 Atlanta St. Patrick's Parade on Saturday, March 14, 2015.

Kelvin Quiroh (center) beats on his drum as he marches down Peachtree St. during the 2015 Atlanta St. Patrick’s Parade on Saturday, March 14, 2015.

Connie Morello (center) turns and twirls her baton as she dances down Peachtree St. during the 2015 Atlanta St. Patrick's Parade on Saturday, March 14, 2015.

Connie Morello (center) turns and twirls her baton as she dances down Peachtree St. during the 2015 Atlanta St. Patrick’s Parade on Saturday, March 14, 2015.

Addie Davis waves to the crowd from the window of a fire engine during the 2015 Atlanta St. Patrick's Parade on Saturday, March 14, 2015.

Addie Davis waves to the crowd from the window of a fire engine during the 2015 Atlanta St. Patrick’s Parade on Saturday, March 14, 2015.

Monica Thorburn (left) leans in to give Jack Jones a kiss on the cheek as he marches down Peachtree St. during the 2015 Atlanta St. Patrick's Parade on Saturday, March 14, 2015.

Monica Thorburn (left) leans in to give Jack Jones a kiss on the cheek as he marches down Peachtree St. during the 2015 Atlanta St. Patrick’s Parade on Saturday, March 14, 2015.

Shianne Sartain (center) and Darshay Bonner watch as the 2015 Atlanta St. Patrick's Parade makes its way down Peachtree St. on Saturday, March 14, 2015.

Shianne Sartain (center) and Darshay Bonner watch as the 2015 Atlanta St. Patrick’s Parade makes its way down Peachtree St. on Saturday, March 14, 2015.

Mike McShane carries an Irish flag as he walks down Peachtree St. during the 2015 Atlanta St. Patrick's Parade on Saturday, March 14, 2015.

Mike McShane carries an Irish flag as he walks down Peachtree St. during the 2015 Atlanta St. Patrick’s Parade on Saturday, March 14, 2015.

Winder Fire Lt. Tommy Evans (left) and engineer William Reidling drive an antique fire engine down Peachtree St. during the 2015 Atlanta St. Patrick's Parade on Saturday, March 14, 2015.

Winder Fire Lt. Tommy Evans (left) and engineer William Reidling drive an antique fire engine down Peachtree St. during the 2015 Atlanta St. Patrick’s Parade on Saturday, March 14, 2015.

John Crispino (center) waves an American flag as he rides down Peachtree St. in a fire truck during the 2015 Atlanta St. Patrick's Parade on Saturday, March 14, 2015.

John Crispino (center) waves an American flag as he rides down Peachtree St. in a fire truck during the 2015 Atlanta St. Patrick’s Parade on Saturday, March 14, 2015.

Honorary Marshal Mary Williams (center) waves to the crowd as she rides down Peachtree St. during the 2015 Atlanta St. Patrick's Parade on Saturday, March 14, 2015.

Honorary Marshal Mary Williams (center) waves to the crowd as she rides down Peachtree St. during the 2015 Atlanta St. Patrick’s Parade on Saturday, March 14, 2015.

Gabrielle Turner (center) dances her way down Peachtree St. during the 2015 Atlanta St. Patrick's Parade on Saturday, March 14, 2015.

Gabrielle Turner (center) dances her way down Peachtree St. during the 2015 Atlanta St. Patrick’s Parade on Saturday, March 14, 2015.

Anne Hewitt (right) talks with Erin Effner as they watch the 2015 Atlanta St. Patrick's Parade pass down Peachtree St. on Saturday, March 14, 2015.

Anne Hewitt (right) talks with Erin Effner as they watch the 2015 Atlanta St. Patrick’s Parade pass down Peachtree St. on Saturday, March 14, 2015.

Isabel Salehbhai (left) plays the fiddle as she rides down Peachtree St. during the 2015 Atlanta St. Patrick's Parade on Saturday, March 14, 2015.

Isabel Salehbhai (left) plays the fiddle as she rides down Peachtree St. during the 2015 Atlanta St. Patrick’s Parade on Saturday, March 14, 2015.

Fiona O'Donoghue with the Clan Na Ngael team catches a ball as she marches down Peachtree St. during the 2015 Atlanta St. Patrick's Parade on Saturday, March 14, 2015.

Fiona O’Donoghue with the Clan Na Ngael team catches a ball as she marches down Peachtree St. during the 2015 Atlanta St. Patrick’s Parade on Saturday, March 14, 2015.

Decked out in Irish regalia, members of the 501st Legion march down Peachtree St. during the 2015 Atlanta St. Patrick's Parade on Saturday, March 14, 2015.

Decked out in Irish regalia, members of the 501st Legion march down Peachtree St. during the 2015 Atlanta St. Patrick’s Parade on Saturday, March 14, 2015.

Dressed as a scout trooper from Star Wars, Shane Duncan (right) poses for a photo with Tate Adams during the 2015 Atlanta St. Patrick's Parade on Saturday, March 14, 2015.

Dressed as a scout trooper from Star Wars, Shane Duncan (right) poses for a photo with Tate Adams during the 2015 Atlanta St. Patrick’s Parade on Saturday, March 14, 2015.

Krystal Gill dances her way down Peachtree St. during the 2015 Atlanta St. Patrick's Parade on Saturday, March 14, 2015.

Krystal Gill dances her way down Peachtree St. during the 2015 Atlanta St. Patrick’s Parade on Saturday, March 14, 2015.

Emily McCafferty (left) blows her horn as the 2015 Atlanta St. Patrick's Parade makes its way down Peachtree St. on Saturday, March 14, 2015.

Emily McCafferty (left) blows her horn as the 2015 Atlanta St. Patrick’s Parade makes its way down Peachtree St. on Saturday, March 14, 2015.

Coral Mace tosses her flag in the air as she marches down Peachtree St. during the 2015 Atlanta St. Patrick's Parade on Saturday, March 14, 2015.

Coral Mace tosses her flag in the air as she marches down Peachtree St. during the 2015 Atlanta St. Patrick’s Parade on Saturday, March 14, 2015.

Dressed as a pirate, Eric Teeples (center) makes his way down Peachtree St. during the 2015 Atlanta St. Patrick's Parade on Saturday, March 14, 2015.

Dressed as a pirate, Eric Teeples (center) makes his way down Peachtree St. during the 2015 Atlanta St. Patrick’s Parade on Saturday, March 14, 2015.

Preston Emberger (right), Chris Fitzpatrick and her son Maccoy watch as the 2015 Atlanta St. Patrick's Parade makes its way down Peachtree St. on Saturday, March 14, 2015.

Preston Emberger (right), Chris Fitzpatrick and her son Maccoy watch as the 2015 Atlanta St. Patrick’s Parade makes its way down Peachtree St. on Saturday, March 14, 2015.

Megan DeSilva (center) screams as she helps carry the world's largest Irish flag down Peachtree St. during the 2015 Atlanta St. Patrick's Parade on Saturday, March 14, 2015.

Megan DeSilva (center) screams as she helps carry the world’s largest Irish flag down Peachtree St. during the 2015 Atlanta St. Patrick’s Parade on Saturday, March 14, 2015.

Volunteers carry the world's largest Irish flag down Peachtree St. during the 2015 Atlanta St. Patrick's Parade on Saturday, March 14, 2015.

Volunteers carry the world’s largest Irish flag down Peachtree St. during the 2015 Atlanta St. Patrick’s Parade on Saturday, March 14, 2015.