Sea Of Green Flocks Downtown For Annual St. Patrick's Day Parade
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- Downtown Pittsburgh has gone green this weekend.
The city's annual St. Patrick's Day Parade kicked off at 10 a.m. with thousands of green-clad revelers lining the streets despite rainy conditions.
- PHOTO GALLERY: St. Patrick's Day Parade
The parade headed down Grant Street and then onto the Boulevard of the Allies downtown. Some streets were shut down and buses detoured while the parade made its way through town.
Pittsburgh's annual St. Patrick's Day Parade is one of the largest and most popular events of its kind in the nation. It's steeped in Irish culture and tradition, featuring Irish dancers, Irish wolfhounds and leprechauns.
Even the wet, dreary weather brought a touch of Ireland.
"It's raining in Ireland probably right now at the same time, this is nothing unusual," said one parade participant. "This is a light Irish mist."
Another tradition at Pittsburgh's St. Patrick's Day Parade - Miss Smiling Irish Eyes.
"I'm just really excited to be here," said Hanna O'Donoghue, Miss Smiling Irish Eyes 2015. "I'd just like to thank everyone that has gotten me here."
Pittsburgh's St. Patrick's Day Parade is the second largest in the United States, featuring 23,000 participants and 200 marching units.
For some people, the parade kicked off a daylong celebration.
"We take all the kids," said Judy Hackel, a parade-goer. "We play games and we celebrate all day long – good, wholesome, family fun."
The event also brings out whole neighborhoods.
"North Side Irish, 30-years straight," said Pat Mullins, of the North Side.
With thousands of spectators attending, some candidates were looking to get out the vote.
"Want everybody to come out and vote," said Judge Dwayne Woodruff, a Pennsylvania Supreme Court Candidate. "Vote your choice; hopefully, your choice is me, Dwayne Woodruff."
But Allegheny County Sheriff William Mullen had a friendly reminder for St. Patrick's Day celebrants.
"Happy St. Patrick's Day to everybody, and have a nice, safe day," he said.
The Salvation Army of Western Pennsylvania showed off its new custom disaster response unit at the parade. The $100,000 unit was donated by United Healthcare and is outfitted with the latest technology and equipment to help first responders during and after emergency situations.
Meanwhile, Public safety officials say the festivities went very well. But one elderly man who was marching in the parade had to be taken to Mercy Hospital. His condition is unknown. Also, a school bus participating in the parade broke down on the Boulevard of the Allies near Smithfield Street.
Later in day, at the party in Market Square, police issued for citations after a fight involving five men. Two were injured.
On the South Side, officials say between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m., there's been one arrest and several citations have been issued for minor infractions.
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