LOUISVILLE, Ky. — For the first time in nearly two years, the streets of Baxter Avenue were lined for Louisville’s one-mile St. Patrick's Parade.
The 2022 theme was “The Return of St. Patrick,” which fits especially well after the parade was canceled the past two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“This feels great to be out, to be back finally. St Patrick returns,” said Jim Sadlo, the president of the Louisville Division of Ancient Order of Hibernians.
Sadlo led the charge of this year's parade.
“Originally what drew me in was the parade, then I saw all the other things they do such as the golf scramble, giving money to boys and girls,” Sadlo said. “There's a lot of good this organization does and plus, you can see this is a fun crowd, so why wouldn't you want to be a member?”
It’s safe to say that people across Louisville were more than ready to be back in green, including St. Patrick himself.
“I’m just the ambassador, I'm the patron saint of Ireland and I'm here to bring all the people,” St. Patrick said.
The annual parade is put on by AOH, America’s oldest Irish Catholic fraternal organization. Members must be a practicing Catholic with some sort of Irish ancestry.
“I'm a quarter Irish, half German, eighth Bohemian, eighth Danish, so the point is I am part Irish so I can join,” Sadlo said.
For Sadlo, it’s a chance to show others about his heritage while spreading a little more Irish cheer.
“This is a tradition that's going to go on for years,” Sadlo said. “If you're out in this kind of weather, 20 degrees and we have this many people, I feel good about our future.”
Across Kentucky, Lexington’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade was postponed and will now take place on March 19th from 11am to 5pm.