Twin Cities Celebrates St. Patrick's Day With Parades, Pints
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) - Here in the Twin Cities, we've got lots of options on St. Patrick's Day.
Angela Davis took a look at the parades, festivities and transportation options around the metro.
Parades
Both Minneapolis and St. Paul hold big parades each year.
St. Paul's parade started at noon, under clear skies and sunshine but rather cool weather. The temperature was just in the low 40s at the time.
And plenty of parents kept their kids home from school today to see St. Patrick's Day at its best.
"I pulled my youngest out of kindergarten today to come and enjoy the parade and be proud of our heritage," Monica Kiernan-Marsh said.
The parade was filled with everything from business groups to family groups to a team of Irish wolf hounds and Irish terriers.
"We show what the breeds were used for in their ancient uses and just what wonderful animals they are today," Terrance Schaffer of Native Dogs of Ireland said.
Parade onlookers put on quite a show themselves, sporting all kinds of green gear.
"We have a whole group every year that comes down together," Cheryl Carpenter said. "We go to my friend's house and she makes us a big old breakfast."
The city of St. Paul boasts a large Irish population and a long history of having a big parade on St. Patrick's Day. The first one was back in 1967.
In Minneapolis, the parade route starts at 6:30 p.m. and goes down Nicollet Mall from 11th Street to 5th Street.
WCCO's Jamie Yuccas served as Grand Marshall in Minneapolis' parade.
WCCO-TV's Angela Davis Reports
A Day At The Pubs
Alcohol consumption is an all-day affair for some people, starting with drinks for breakfast.
One group had special jerseys made for St. Patrick's Day, adding the letter 'O' to their last names.
Dave Bickel was holding his beer bong in St. Paul.
"I don't fill it up all the way because it gets warm," he said. "But I fill it up enough: one or two beers and drink it along the way."
Toni Allison agreed that drinking was her favorite part of the festivities.
"I have to be honest, it's what brings me out every year," she said.
If you stepped into an Irish pub, like McGovern's on W. 7th Street, you could find green beer and green people consuming it.
"We opened at 8:30 a.m., which has been a tradition since 1982," McGovern's owner Pat Boehmer said. "There were people in line waiting to come in [for a] liquid breakfast."
Safety
Police want us to remind everyone who's out celebrating Tuesday night that if you're drinking, please don't drive. Choose a designated driver in your group of friends.
And be aware that Metro Transit is offering free rides on its buses and trains from 6 p.m. until 3 a.m.
