LOUISVILLE, Ky. — St Patrick’s Day is just over a week away, but people in Louisville started celebrating Saturday, as the Ancient Order of Hibernians hosted its 51st annual St. Patrick's Day Parade.
“This was my first time in the St Patrick's Day Parade, and the only parade I've ever been in before was a Halloween parade,” said Martha McCoy, parade participant and owner of Ah, Whatta 'Bout Mimi!
McCoy's business is a gift shop in Louisville selling balloon sculptures. She said one specifically designed for the parade took her a few hours to create.
It was when they started making costumes they decided to walk in the parade.
“We've learned how to make costumes," she said. "We've expanded what we do with balloons, and we've learned all about costumes and things that we have every show, trying to do it in a parade."
The parade started at Broadway and Baxter Avenue and went for a little over a mile. John O'Dwyer, parade coordinator, Ancient Order of the Hibernians, said it takes about a year to plan the event.
“We just appreciate everybody coming out," O'Dwyer said. "We call it the 'people's parade' because it really is all about the people and the businesses on this route. ... the Ancient Order of Hibernians can't say enough about how much we enjoy doing it."
McCoy said she's hoping even more people will turn out next year.
“If you're not at the parade right now, you're going to be sorry because you missed out, so put it on your calendar for next year,” McCoy said.
O'Dwyer said planning for the 2025 parade will begin in about a week. It is a charity event, and all the money raised will be given back to the community, he added.