Luck of the Irish shines on Coeur d'Alene parade
Families with ICCU wave to paradegoers along Sherman Avenue on Saturday.
HAILEY HILL/Press
Mike Delaney leads Saturday's St. Patrick's Day Parade with his Irish Wolfhound, Conri.
Asher, 6, dances an Irish jig as he watches the St. Patrick's Day Parade along Sherman Avenue with his family Saturday.
Mrs. Kootenai County Stormi Norton, left, and Mrs. North Idaho Natalie Owens wave to paradegoers Saturday.
Wearing a shamrock headband, a young girl takes in Saturday's St. Patrick's Day Parade in downtown Coeur d'Alene.
Arik Aguirre and his puppy, Apples, were both dressed for the occasion during Saturday's St. Patrick's Day Parade.
St. Patrick's Day revelers take in Saturday's parade from inside Collective Kitchen in Downtown Coeur d'Alene.
COEUR d’ALENE — The luck of the Irish was on the side of paradegoers Saturday afternoon as the sun peaked through an otherwise drizzly sky just in time for the St. Patrick’s Day parade.
Even so, the hundreds of people lining the parade route along Sherman Avenue — most of whom dressed in green — were determined to celebrate the holiday regardless of the weather.
“We promised (our boys) a St. Patrick’s Day parade,” said Anna Menke. “They had their hearts set on it.”
Menke’s sons Asher, 6, and Jackson, 2, were in the spirit of the day. Both held an Ireland flag, and Asher wore a sparkly green tie as he danced an Irish jig on the sidewalk.
“This really is one of the best local parades,” Menke said.
A few dozen area businesses and organizations made up the procession that traveled from Eighth and Sherman down toward First Street, with many passing out shamrock necklaces and other festive goodies.
Several honorees made appearances in the parade, including Irish Man of the Year, Nick Buley, Irish Woman of the Year, Schylor Reynolds and Irish Colleen of the Year, Mary Thrasher. Mrs. Kootenai County, Stormi Norton, and Mrs. North Idaho, Natalie Owens, also made their way down the parade route.
Of course, a St. Patrick’s Day celebration is incomplete without the sound of bagpipes, which were expertly played by the Coeur d’Alene Firefighters Pipes and Drums.
Downtown businesses also got a boost from the festivities.
The Beacon, Moose Lounge, and other downtown bars were packed as patrons enjoyed a pint while watching the parade unfold.
Even the dogs were in on the action. Apples, a Dachshund puppy, wore a green sweater in coordination with its human family — all of whom were in kilts.
Apples’ owners, Arik and Kate Aguirre, explained that they met working in an Irish pub, where kilts were part of the uniform. On a trip to Ireland, they got their three children, Asher, Summer and Parker, matching kilts of their own.
“We just really love St. Patrick’s Day,” Arik said.
Mike Delaney leads Saturday's St. Patrick's Day Parade with his Irish Wolfhound, Conri.
Asher, 6, dances an Irish jig as he watches the St. Patrick's Day Parade along Sherman Avenue with his family Saturday.
Mrs. Kootenai County Stormi Norton, left, and Mrs. North Idaho Natalie Owens wave to paradegoers Saturday.
Wearing a shamrock headband, a young girl takes in Saturday's St. Patrick's Day Parade in downtown Coeur d'Alene.
Arik Aguirre and his puppy, Apples, were both dressed for the occasion during Saturday's St. Patrick's Day Parade.
St. Patrick's Day revelers take in Saturday's parade from inside Collective Kitchen in Downtown Coeur d'Alene.