‘Tis A Great Day! Cheerful Crowd Of Honorary Irish Revels In Saturday’s Sunshine

This time last year, the St. Patrick’s Day parade drew more snow than spectators. But Saturday afternoon, many in the huge downtown crowd wore their “Kiss me, I’m Irish” gear with shorts, drinking in sunshine along with their green beer.

“This is the funnest day of the year in Spokane,” said Aaron Rojan from his post at O’Doherty’s Irish Grille’s beer garden on Spokane Falls Boulevard.

“It’s more fun than New Year’s.”

Rojan and 15 of his closest friends arrived at O’Doherty’s at 10 a.m. - two hours before the parade started - to grab a prime viewing spot.

Stan Moritz had perhaps the loftiest perch along Spokane Falls, sitting cross-legged atop a 10-foothigh brick sidewalk sculpture.

“I guess I just got here first,” he said of his lucky find.

The Friendly Sons of St. Patrick, who organized the parade, estimated a record 170,000 residents lined the streets to watch the 20th anniversary show. More than 250 entries made their way along a slightly altered route, detouring to avoid River Park Square construction.

“It was a good, good time,” said Sons of St. Patrick volunteer Shiloh Welk, yelling above the crowd at a C.I. Shenanigan’s post-parade bash.

Excitement infected the throngs of honorary Irish along the parade’s path. Green Silly String dangled from trees. Clowns passed out clovercolored balloons to kids.

Heaven help those who left their green garb home: A group of giggling youngsters ran down Main looking for victims to pinch.

Cindy didn’t need to worry. The normally white Maltese dog sported fur a florescent shade of green not found in nature. The tiny pooch strutted down Bernard, stopping to bark at a Doberman 10 times her size and taunt a police dog locked inside a patrol car.

“She’s pretty proud of herself right now,” said owner Carolyn Peterman.

Bruce Tate of Garfield, Wash., watched the fanfare from his (what else?) green Honda, parked in a lot off Main. He sipped a Coke and waited for his wife, who had slipped into the crowd for a closer look.

The crowd quieted as they heard the paradeleading, bagpipe-playing Angus Scott Pipe Band approaching.

A pocket of youngsters at the corner of Washington and Spokane Falls Boulevard benefitted from being at the start of the parade. Each filled plastic grocery sacks with candy tossed from people in the parade.

The Garfield Elementary School Grizzlies drew the biggest applause. Dozens of sunglass-wearing students made up “Kids in Black,” swaying to the rap music of “Men in Black.”

The arrival of U.S. Rep. George Nethercutt proved a hit, too - at least with one young boy.

Nethercutt walked alongside the red Mustang convertible furnished for him. Obviously starstruck, the boy ran up to the car - and shook hands with the driver. Nethercutt wasn’t green with envy. He took the unintended snub in stride, laughing as the boy ran back to his parents.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Photo