2014 Atlanta St. Patricks Day Parade

Saturday, March 15, 2014

Today is St. Patrick’s Day! A time to celebrate your Irish and not so Irish heritage most of the time with a green beer in your hand. Each year, Atlanta celebrates with a parade through downtown and although it is not as spectacular as being in Southie for the 5 or so years I lived in Massachusetts, it’s still pretty cool. The parade featured more than 2,000 Irish dancers, musicians, floats and local and Irish dignitaries as well as the World’s Largest Walking Irish Flag and the Budweiser Clydesdales. Thousands of people, mostly in green, lined the 10 blocks that made up the new route down Peachtree Street. It was a great way to start off the day and prepared me for more of what was to come.

Robbie Rogers warms up his bagpipes before the start of the Atlanta St. Patrick's Day Parade on Saturday, March 15, 2014.

Robbie Rogers warms up his bagpipes before the start of the Atlanta St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Saturday, March 15, 2014.

 

Riley Grace Braithwaite takes a photo with her camer as she waits for the Atlanta St. Patrick's Day Parade to begin on Saturday, March 15, 2014.

Riley Grace Braithwaite takes a photo with her camer as she waits for the Atlanta St. Patrick’s Day Parade to begin on Saturday, March 15, 2014.

 

Crosby Conley (left) tries to steal a book from Katie Woods as they wait for the Atlanta St. Patrick's Day Parade to begin on Saturday, March 15, 2014.

Crosby Conley (left) tries to steal a book from Katie Woods as they wait for the Atlanta St. Patrick’s Day Parade to begin on Saturday, March 15, 2014.

 

Cormac Wrenn (center) watches the Atlanta St. Patrick's Day Parade pass by on Peachtree St, on Saturday, March 15, 2014.

Cormac Wrenn (center) watches the Atlanta St. Patrick’s Day Parade pass by on Peachtree St, on Saturday, March 15, 2014.

 

Lucky O'Brien walks down Peachtree St. during the Atlanta St. Patrick's Day Parade on Saturday, March 15, 2014.

Lucky O’Brien walks down Peachtree St. during the Atlanta St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Saturday, March 15, 2014.

 

Sfc Shelton Williams marches down Peachtree St. during the Atlanta St. Patrick's Day Parade on Saturday, March 15, 2014.

Sfc Shelton Williams marches down Peachtree St. during the Atlanta St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Saturday, March 15, 2014.

 

Don Bogue (center) leads the Atholl Highlanders Pipes & Drums down Peachtree St. during the Atlanta St. Patrick's Day Parade on Saturday, March 15, 2014.

Don Bogue (center) leads the Atholl Highlanders Pipes & Drums down Peachtree St. during the Atlanta St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Saturday, March 15, 2014.

 

The Budweiser Clydesdales make their way down Peachtree St. during the Atlanta St. Patrick's Day Parade on Saturday, March 15, 2014.

The Budweiser Clydesdales make their way down Peachtree St. during the Atlanta St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Saturday, March 15, 2014.

 

The Budweiser Clydesdales make their way down Peachtree St. during the Atlanta St. Patrick's Day Parade on Saturday, March 15, 2014.

The Budweiser Clydesdales make their way down Peachtree St. during the Atlanta St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Saturday, March 15, 2014.

 

Erin McGrath (right) and Allison Riley ride a float down Peachtree St. during the Atlanta St. Patrick's Day Parade on Saturday, March 15, 2014.

Erin McGrath (right) and Allison Riley ride a float down Peachtree St. during the Atlanta St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Saturday, March 15, 2014.

 

Ezra Jacobs (left) plays his trumpet during the Atlanta St. Patrick's Day Parade on Saturday, March 15, 2014.

Ezra Jacobs (left) plays his trumpet during the Atlanta St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Saturday, March 15, 2014.

 

Ronan Wrenn (left) watches the Atlanta St. Patrick's Day Parade pass by on Peachtree St, on Saturday, March 15, 2014.

Ronan Wrenn (left) watches the Atlanta St. Patrick’s Day Parade pass by on Peachtree St, on Saturday, March 15, 2014.

 

Odie jumps through a hoop held by John McGrew during the Atlanta St. Patrick's Day Parade on Saturday, March 15, 2014.

Odie jumps through a hoop held by John McGrew during the Atlanta St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Saturday, March 15, 2014.

 

Annabelle Parker (center) dances her way down Peachtree St. during the Atlanta St. Patrick's Day Parade on Saturday, March 15, 2014.

Annabelle Parker (center) dances her way down Peachtree St. during the Atlanta St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Saturday, March 15, 2014.

 

Mary Long (left) holds up an Irish flag as she walks down Peachtree St. during the Atlanta St. Patrick's Day Parade on Saturday, March 15, 2014.

Mary Long (left) holds up an Irish flag as she walks down Peachtree St. during the Atlanta St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Saturday, March 15, 2014.

 

Katy Callaghan (center) plays her fiddle during the Atlanta St. Patrick's Day Parade on Saturday, March 15, 2014.

Katy Callaghan (center) plays her fiddle during the Atlanta St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Saturday, March 15, 2014.

 

Nancy Korzen waves to the crowd during the Atlanta St. Patrick's Day Parade on Saturday, March 15, 2014.

Nancy Korzen waves to the crowd during the Atlanta St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Saturday, March 15, 2014.

 

Jeff Wilkowski (center) walks his llama Nairada down Peachtree St. during the Atlanta St. Patrick's Day Parade on Saturday, March 15, 2014.

Jeff Wilkowski (center) walks his llama Nairada down Peachtree St. during the Atlanta St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Saturday, March 15, 2014.

 

Anthony Green (left) and J.J. Hayden play their drums as the North Atlanta Pipes & Drums march down Peachtree St. during the Atlanta St. Patrick's Day Parade on Saturday, March 15, 2014.

Anthony Green (left) and J.J. Hayden play their drums as the North Atlanta Pipes & Drums march down Peachtree St. during the Atlanta St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Saturday, March 15, 2014.

 

Carole Salces (center) and Rodrigo Martinez watch  the Atlanta St. Patrick's Day Parade on Saturday, March 15, 2014.

Carole Salces (center) and Rodrigo Martinez watch the Atlanta St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Saturday, March 15, 2014.

 

Julio De La Cruz (left), Sofia Castillo, Karina Aguilar and Alyssia Evans wave to the crowd as they ride a float down Peachtree St. during the Atlanta St. Patrick's Day Parade on Saturday, March 15, 2014.

Julio De La Cruz (left), Sofia Castillo, Karina Aguilar and Alyssia Evans wave to the crowd as they ride a float down Peachtree St. during the Atlanta St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Saturday, March 15, 2014.

 

Patti Griffith (center) twirls her baton as the Twilight Twirlers make their way down Peachtree St. during the Atlanta St. Patrick's Day Parade on Saturday, March 15, 2014.

Patti Griffith (center) twirls her baton as the Twilight Twirlers make their way down Peachtree St. during the Atlanta St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Saturday, March 15, 2014.

 

Jermaine Johnson (center) marches down Peachtree St. with the New Edition Marching Band during the Atlanta St. Patrick's Day Parade on Saturday, March 15, 2014.

Jermaine Johnson (center) marches down Peachtree St. with the New Edition Marching Band during the Atlanta St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Saturday, March 15, 2014.

 

Cooper Chastain (center) watches the Atlanta St. Patrick's Day Parade pass by on Saturday, March 15, 2014.

Cooper Chastain (center) watches the Atlanta St. Patrick’s Day Parade pass by on Saturday, March 15, 2014.

 

Phoebe Sercer (right) hands out golden coins from her green pot during the Atlanta St. Patrick's Day Parade on Saturday, March 15, 2014.

Phoebe Sercer (right) hands out golden coins from her green pot during the Atlanta St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Saturday, March 15, 2014.

 

Greg McKellar plays his bagpipes as the John Mohr Mackintosh Pipes and Drums march down Peachtree St. during the Atlanta St. Patrick's Day Parade on Saturday, March 15, 2014.

Greg McKellar plays his bagpipes as the John Mohr Mackintosh Pipes and Drums march down Peachtree St. during the Atlanta St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Saturday, March 15, 2014.

 

Ciara Fleming plays the fiddle as she rides a float down Peachtree St. during the Atlanta St. Patrick's Day Parade on Saturday, March 15, 2014.

Ciara Fleming plays the fiddle as she rides a float down Peachtree St. during the Atlanta St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Saturday, March 15, 2014.

 

Ameera Tripplet (center) dances down Peachtree St. during the Atlanta St. Patrick's Day Parade on Saturday, March 15, 2014.

Ameera Tripplet (center) dances down Peachtree St. during the Atlanta St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Saturday, March 15, 2014.

 

Owen McClelland (right) hands out high fives during the Atlanta St. Patrick's Day Parade on Saturday, March 15, 2014.

Owen McClelland (right) hands out high fives during the Atlanta St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Saturday, March 15, 2014.

 

 Jessica Kranich (right) holds her son Gavin as they watch the Atlanta St. Patrick's Day Parade on Saturday, March 15, 2014.

Jessica Kranich (right) holds her son Gavin as they watch the Atlanta St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Saturday, March 15, 2014.

 

A clown from the Red Devil Clowns troop waves to the crowd during the Atlanta St. Patrick's Day Parade on Saturday, March 15, 2014.

A clown from the Red Devil Clowns troop waves to the crowd during the Atlanta St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Saturday, March 15, 2014.

 

A stormtrooper from the 501st Legion has their photo taken with Charlotte Self by her mother Shalyn during the Atlanta St. Patrick's Day Parade on Saturday, March 15, 2014.

A stormtrooper from the 501st Legion has their photo taken with Charlotte Self by her mother Shalyn during the Atlanta St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Saturday, March 15, 2014.

 

Bill Ford hands out green beaded necklaces during the Atlanta St. Patrick's Day Parade on Saturday, March 15, 2014.

Bill Ford hands out green beaded necklaces during the Atlanta St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Saturday, March 15, 2014.

 

Bill Scott plays his trumpet down Peachtree St. during the Atlanta St. Patrick's Day Parade on Saturday, March 15, 2014.

Bill Scott plays his trumpet down Peachtree St. during the Atlanta St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Saturday, March 15, 2014.

 

Aileen Hatcher (left) walks down Peachtree Street as part of the World's Largest Walking Irish Flag during the Atlanta St. Patrick's Day Parade on Saturday, March 15, 2014.

Aileen Hatcher (left) walks down Peachtree Street as part of the World’s Largest Walking Irish Flag during the Atlanta St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Saturday, March 15, 2014.

 

The World's Largest Walking Irish Flag makes its way down Peachtree St. during the Atlanta St. Patrick's Day Parade on Saturday, March 15, 2014.

The World’s Largest Walking Irish Flag makes its way down Peachtree St. during the Atlanta St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Saturday, March 15, 2014.

 

Heather Dziedzic walks down Peachtree Street as part of the World's Largest Walking Irish Flag during the Atlanta St. Patrick's Day Parade on Saturday, March 15, 2014.

Heather Dziedzic walks down Peachtree Street as part of the World’s Largest Walking Irish Flag during the Atlanta St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Saturday, March 15, 2014.