CLEVELAND — An annual tradition returned after being canceled for two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Thousands of people gathered to celebrate the return of Cleveland’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade. 

“We found a great spot,” said Aubin D’Andrea, who attended the parade with family and friends. “The kids are loving it.” 

Families, like D’Andrea’s, lined Superior Avenue downtown Thursday afternoon to enjoy the 180th anniversary of the event.

Groups, like the Irish American Club East Side, showed off their floats with the theme “Ireland’s Scenic Coastlines,” the same theme as 2020, when the pandemic caused the parade’s cancelation.

The group was finally able to show off its hard work. 

“Right now, we’re blessed,” said Bob Henry, with the Irish American Club East Side. “2022 is a blessed year for weather, this is gorgeous.”

Isla Cloud, 6, took advantage of the parade’s delay to perfect her march.

“I’m most excited about seeing all the floats,” she said. 

She participated in the parade with her grandfather, Wes Feathers, who also marched for the first time, excited to share the experience with his family. 

“People, I tell all the time, Cleveland’s St. Patrick’s Parade is the best there is, but you’ve got to see it to believe it,” he said. “So, she’s going to see it and believe it by the end of the day.”

Many members of the community gathered to make memories to last a lifetime.

“I love Cleveland,” said Ashley Leber, who attended the parade. “It’s my home, it’s where I grew up. And to be a part of it with all these people and to have everyone down here and everyone celebrating and having so much fun, it’s so awesome.”