First Day of Spring Opens with Annual Saint Patricks Day Parade

Downtown Bay City Alive with runners and walkers followed by big parade

March 20, 2016       Leave a Comment
By: Stephen Kent

Printer Friendly Story View

Today was a "twofer" combining the First Day of Spring and the 62nd annual Bay City Saint Patrick's Day Parade. As usual, the Citizens of our fine city were out by the thousands to celebrate the day and just have a great old time!

Watch the parade on Bay3TV: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9xywAx-4qwA



The day started as usual with the annual run/walk. Participants from far and wide showed up to do their thing. Being a walker (at best), this reporter saved his energy for walking the parade route. But MyBayCity.com was well represented with the editor doing the walk and a few family members participating as well. (We did notice that Emily, shown at right, was riding in the back of the pickup, not walking when the Haunted Temple float came by.)o

In many ways, it was a mirror of last year's parade. The temps were almost exactly the same, with bright skies and light wind. This reporter was facing into the light breeze as he walked against the grain taking pictures or the parade and crowd. The light jacket and vest, plus a knit hat, felt pretty good. After a little more than a mile and a quarter it was time to turn around and boogie back downtown. Going with the wind it didn't take long for the "hat" to come off. By the time I was back at the MyBayCity.com office by the county building, I was sweating.

Last weekend, parade organizer Jan Rau was the speaker for the Bay County Historical Society's monthly (free) Second Saturday talk. Because the Museum staff was at the Planetarium putting on the regional Michigan History Day, Jan's talk was held in the big theater with slides projected on the huge dome. It was a great program with lots of good pictures from the last 62 years and many fun stories... for example.

Did you know there has been more than one wedding held in conjunction with the parade? After one of these weddings, Jan said the newlywed couple was to ride down the parade route in a white carriage pulled by a horse. As it turned out, the horse selected was a draft animal and just a little too large for the carriage. He got excited and in short order broke the traces. "Well, it's pretty easy to walk a horse off the parade route, but not so much to get a carriage out of the way," Jan said. Fortunately, some enterprising parade volunteers had just the solution. They all grabbed the carriage tongue and proceeded to pull the carriage the rest of the way with brute manpower.

As a point of interest, Jan Rau is also a key organizer of the River of Time held as the last festival of Bay City's summer. She seems to kick things off in the Spring and wrap it all up in the Fall.

We didn't see any problems this year's parade. Everyone seemed to have a great time and things came off just fine. Enjoy this collection of photos from the day and send a link to your friends and relatives. MyBayCity.com is read worldwide. It's fun to show others how we enjoy ourselves each spring.




I think she's ready!



The crowd is certainly ready



Mickey and Minnie are ready



And here comes the parade with public safety officers at the head!







American Legion 40&8 fire their cannon as the locomotive steams down the road.



Parade Marshals Jerry and Sue Blondin



St. Patrick's Day Parade Queen and Court



Just this morning the paper noted that Pedal Trollies are approved to serve beer this year!
The commissioners do look kinda happy to be peddaling.







We told Charlie Brunner and Jim Barcia that if all the politicians gave hugs like that
they'd get elected every time.



Cadets show the colors.



Miss Bay County Ashli Maser and Outstanding Teen Larissa Hollingsworth



The Bay City Central High Band sounded great!
(But I was on the committee that bought those uniforms, and I don't rember the glasses.)



Super kids have a super day



Sparky poses with the kids



Lou E. Loon mascot to the Great Lakes Loons baseball team.



Little League boys os summer



That's the spirit!



The Tummy Ache Candy Van



A dress made from Frooties bags, now that's original!



Montrose Blueberry Festival Princess Alexis Rush and Queen Kara Shelton



Munger Potato Festival Court Kayla Ratajczak and Marlee Curnutt
Queen Paige Lupcke



Wil-Lew Lounge float participants celebrate the day.



St. Stans has the best Irish Theme



Auburn Glen School of Highland Dance



Probate Judge John Keuvelaar and a great old car.



Chemical Bank's Big Piggy Bank



Relaxing on the Second Baptist Church float



Bay City Western High School Band



Excellent, straight lines. Good job WHS Band



That seems to say it all.



Those strong women danced the whole way! I got tired just watching.



Mason tosses candy to kids.



MyBayCity.com's Josh Sharrow drives with Johnny in back.
Be sure to catch the Johnny and Blondie show on the internet
JohnnyAndBlondie.com



Ancient Order of Hibernians fly their colors



Another really good looking classic car represents Denny's Collision.



Kendra Lodewyk, Miss Auburn / Midland's Outstanding Teen



Revolutionary War Era Fife and Drums



Medusa's Snakes were moving all around on the Haunted Temple float
This Halloween's theme will be Monsters of Myth



Little Princess



Bay City Fireworks Queen Bre Jean, Jr. Miss Rachel Gonsler,
Little Miss Mahalie Clay, Lil'Miss Firecracker Lauren Vandriessche



Bay City All-Stars and Elite Cheerleading



Michigan Apple Queen Sara Reisinger and Court Hannah Rasch



St. Patty Green Harley



Michigan Sugar Queen Riley Smith
Attendants Briley Harder and Leah Thornton



Shouldn't she be saying "Kiss me, I'm Irish".



Pack 3157 - Cub Scouts



Tower and Zip line built by the Boy Scouts



Pilot in Command



John Glen High School Marching Band



Yes! We do like the kilt.



Bay City Police Officer Krzyminski



Had to do a double take at that beard



Somebody's having fun.



Nice hats



Having fun



I want one of those umbrellas



And Hi to you too!



Kids were all having fun.



Now that's getting into the swing of things.



One of the better vantage points.



Girl Scouts were handing out candy



Enjoying the day and collecting candy.



Man, that hotdog looks good.



It says "Why Knots". I almost bought one on the spot.



I see you too



What more can we say. Everyone is having a good day!

---

Printer Friendly Story View

	Prior Article February 10, 2020 by: Rachel Reh Family Winter Fun Fest is BACC Hot Spot for 2/10/2020
	Next Article February 2, 2020 by: Kathy Rupert-Mathews MOVIE REVIEW: "Just Mercy" ... You Will Shed Tears, or at Least You Should

Agree? or Disagree? Leave a Comment!

---

Stephen Kent
Steve Kent and his family have lived in Bay City for 40 years. He is VP of Technical Services at MMCC which produces MyBayCity.Com. Kent is active in many Bay City civic organizations. More from Stephen Kent

---

Send This Story to a Friend!       Letter to the editor       Link to this Story
Printer-Friendly Story View

---

--- Advertisments ---