Despite a wind chill that made if feel like temperatures were in the 20s, crowds bundled up Saturday for the Pittsburgh St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
Gathered on Liberty Avenue near the parade’s starting point, people were decked out in leprechaun costumes, necklaces of green beads, kilts, four-leaf clover headbands and other Irish-themed attire.
Some, like Kelcey Schaum, of the Strip District, even dressed their dogs for the occasion: Her pooch, Olive, wagged a tail dyed green.
Ms. Schaum came to the celebration with Katja Kauffman, of Homestead. It’s a longstanding tradition: The pair have known each other since kindergarten and have been going to the parade together since 2011.
“We just love going,” Ms. Kauffman said. “I love seeing all the different communities and groups I had no idea about in Pittsburgh, so it's nice getting introduced to them. People do a lot in the community, and they’re getting recognized.”
Among those local groups were the Filipino American Association of Pittsburgh, its members dressed in traditional clothing embellished with leprechaun hats and clover leaf scarves. Numerous high school marching bands — donning signature colors — walked the 1.4-mile parade route, too, beginning at the intersection of Liberty Avenue and 11th Street and ending at at Commonwealth Place.
In total, about 200 marching units, including the Pittsburgh Syria Shriners Highlanders Pipe & Drum Band, were in line to bring the music.
Mayor Ed Gainey also attended, wearing a green bow tie visible outside his jacket.
The event also gave a nod to another holiday, with an “Irish Santa” sporting a bright-green suit as he waved to the cheering crowd.
Among the chilly yet excited parade-goers was 9-year-old Ava Casper. She was busy collecting candy, a Pirates cap and other items tossed out to the crowd during the parade. She also brought along an “Irish Princess” tiara she got at last year’s parade.
Her mom, Kristin Casper, has attended the parade for the past 10 years. She said she takes her daughter to help her celebrate their Irish roots.
“It's a perfect way to get her into it,” she said. “It's a fun experience. Rain, snow or beautiful weather — we're here.”
The 2022 parade was the first to take place in March since 2019 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The 2022 version was a cold one as well: Last year’s parade stepped off to temperatures in the low 20s.
Ms. Casper remembers borrowing a friend’s broom last year to sweep up snow and warming up in the Downtown Greyhound bus station. Back in the same spot – this time, without snow or rain – she said there wasn’t a celebration in the country quite like Pittsburgh’s. It's a way to bring out “yinzers” like herself for a day of fun downtown festivities, she said, even though the crowd seemed to be smaller than in years past.
“You hear about the other parades in Chicago, Boston, New York and all that, but there's no other city like Pittsburgh,” she said. “Everyone is so friendly.”
A Pittsburgh tradition dating back 150 years, the parade typically attracts anywhere from 200,000 to 350,000 spectators.
With about 15% of the Pittsburgh metropolitan area claiming Irish heritage, the event is among the largest of its kind in the country. For the annual tradition, Irish step dancers, marching bands, military members, community organizations and other participants march down Grant Street on the Saturday before St. Patrick’s Day, which lands this year on a Friday.
WalletHub recently ranked Pittsburgh among the Best Places to Go for St. Patrick’s Day in its 2023 list.
CommUnity Good Morning ????
— Ed Gainey (@gainey_ed) March 11, 2023
Happy Parade Day! ☘️ pic.twitter.com/IOwxkW7iUq
Throughout the procession, Ava took advantage of the opportunity to meet dancers and cheerleaders, along with characters from beloved films like the “Ghostbusters.”
“I like that they're all friendly and let you get a lot of candy,” she said. “I also like how they dress up. There were horses, too. I really liked the horses.”
Even when the lively procession came to an end, the fun wasn’t over for Addison, 7, and her friend, Nora, 9. With some encouragement from Addison’s parents, they had the chance to take a ride in the sidecar of a Pittsburgh Police motorcycle when the parade concluded.
Katie and Nick Irvine traveled from Oakland with their friends and two children, Addison and 3-year-old Connor. They came out to support the 22nd Annual St. Patrick’s Day Party Fundraiser at Bill’s Bar and Burger, a restaurant off Liberty Avenue. Proceeds from the fundraiser go to a scholarship to support a Valley High School graduate.
“I haven't really come down since my 20s,” she said. “The kids were really into going this year.”
Addison was dressed in a tutu and matching tie-dye leggings and shirt; Connor opted for a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle beanie.
“The whole get up, head to toe, was a gift from her grandma knowing that we were coming down this weekend,” their mother said.
Farther along the parade route, Lisa Barbuckle and her family came prepared, bringing lawn chairs, a heater and a speaker to play Irish music. They arrived early, at 8:30 a.m., to claim a good spot.
“We’re staying at the Westin over here, but we came super early for the parade and had such a great time,” she said. “I mean, I couldn't say enough.”
Ms. Barbuckle said she enjoyed the unique costumes and floats with themes ranging from Star Wars to the Renaissance Festival. Bagpipe players were a favorite of the group, especially since Ms. Barbuckle’s father, Bob, plays the instrument himself.
For some, the parade is that unique opportunity to showcase Irish culture. Monongahela sisters and high schoolers Katie and Molly Brady-Bishop danced in the parade with the Pittsburgh Ceili Club. Their parents, Francine and Adam Brady-Bishop, have been part of the club since 1996 and their daughters have carried on the tradition.
“We do Ceili dancing, which is like Irish square dancing,” she said. “My daughters have been going ever since they were born.”
The family said the parade helps introduce the cultural dance to the wider community, marching each year with various groups. Ms. Brady-Bishop said she hopes it will inspires others to join.
The girls described the event as a “fever dream.”
“It's always the most energetic parade I march in,” Molly said.
Jordan Anderson: janderson@post-gazette.com
First Published: March 11, 2023, 11:00 a.m.
Updated: March 11, 2023, 6:12 p.m.