LEXINGTON, Ky. — Lexington held its annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade & Festival Saturday. One of its participants has attended every festival since they began in 1980.
The event means a lot to Sandy Reid, a bagpiper.
“It’s just tradition,” Reid said. “It’s part of my family tradition that we do this all the time, so that’s what happens on St. Patrick’s Day.”
Reid’s father taught her to play the bagpipes and started his own group, which led Lexington’s first St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
“He signed up,” Reid said. “He was the very first one to sign up for the parade, and we have done it every year since 1980.”
The torch was passed to Reid to become pipe major after her father died in 1993. During Saturday's festivities, she performed during the "Blessing of the Keg," led the parade with her group William Sutherland Reid Pipes and Drums and was the grand marshal.
“I said, ‘I would only do it if I could still march with the band in the parade,’ so that’s my job," Reid said. "I march down the street, and then I get up on the viewing scene and watch the parade."
A free Irish dance class was also put on by Megan Moloney, who organized the event.
“It’s so wonderful because we have not only folks who are interested in celebrating St. Patrick’s Day because they’re Irish but folks who just want to be a part of the community, come out and join us and listen to the music, watch the dancers and take part in the parade,” Moloney said.
There were several vendors and performers during the all-day event.