Parade draws a crowd

Archive for Thursday, March 17, 2005

March 17, 2005

Leavenworth — Green-clad residents of Leavenworth, Lansing and the surrounding area packed the sidewalks of downtown Leavenworth this afternoon to show their Irish pride at the annual St. Patrick's Day Parade.

The parade, which began at noon, lasted 55 minutes. About 40 floats rolled through the streets and were joined by numerous cars with dignitaries, law enforcement vehicles, green John Deere tractors, high school and middle school bands, bicycles, walkers, people in leprechaun costumes, local governments hopefuls and former parade grand marshals.

Despite rising temperatures, a brisk wind made things cool for the crowd. Many small children were seen wearing green T-shirts or sweatshirts under winter coats to keep warm.

A Lansing mother wearing a red "Vote for Kids" T-shirt walked in the parade and handed out fliers with information about the school bond as her son, wearing a white "Vote for Kids" shirt, rode next to her on a four-wheeler.