Thousands flood downtown Spokane for 40th St. Patrick’s parade

SPOKANE, Wash. — Downtown Spokane was painted green on Saturday with folks decked out in their St. Patrick’s Day bling. They were out for the city’s 40th annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

“There are so many fun people, and we just saw a guy walk completely covered in green,” said Michael Teade.

Float after float went by, with marchers, dancers, musicians and four legged St. Patrick’s day fans, all lead on by a contingent of bagpipers.

“I would never miss it,” said Dorothy Shannon, who is 98 years-old. “I’ve been coming to St. Patrick’s day parades since I was young in Butte, Montana.”

She had also been bringing her kids with her since way back as well. In fact the family marched together in the very first parade in Spokane 40 years ago.

“We get together with family and just have a fun time,” said Paddy Shannon.

This year was a bittersweet parade for the Shannon clan, as they were out celebrating and remembering their proud Irish husband and father, who recently passed.

“May your cup always be full, may you have a strong roof over your head and may you be in heaven an hour before the devil knows your dead, that was what dad always said, he was true Irish,” said Kathleen Shannon Dix.

The parade kicked off at noon and lasted about two and half hours.

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