HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — It's the luck of the Irish! What was once an 18 person parade in 1978, has now turned into a gathering of hundreds in downtown Huntsville for the 46th Annual St. Patrick's Day Parade, which was organized by the Irish Society of North Alabama.
This parade pays tribute to the parade's founder, Ellen McAnelly, who died in 2009.
Over 90 groups participated in the parade, with an official pipe band leading, followed by a stop at St. Mary of the Visitation Catholic Church on Jefferson Street for the annual blessing of the parade, the Irish, and American flags..
Today's festivities prove to some Huntsville residents just how much the community has grown. One parade-goer says, "Camaraderie is insane. I mean, Huntsville is a very widespread city. It doesn't grow up like most big cities. But I think coming out here, you can see all the streets are closed off. Everybody's coming together. You don't really see this very often. So to me, the camaraderie is incredible."
For some it's all about time spent with their family and enjoying the weather and for others, it's about giving back. From 18 people to hundreds, one thing is for certain...the community of Huntsville is here.