City Is Green For A Day Some Revelers May Still Feel A Bit Green This Morning
Watching Kaye Murphy snap picture after picture of her pals at Spokane’s 18th annual St. Patrick’s Day parade, you’d never guess they’ve been to almost every one.
They lined West Main in their green St. Patrick Sons O’ Fun jackets Saturday, laughing their way through one of city’s biggest street celebrations.
Murphy has mastered the routine: Snag rooms at the Ridpath Hotel a year in advance, go to the parade, and party, party, party.
“We enjoy watching it too much to be in it,” said Murphy, a Newport resident accompanied by 32 friends and relatives. “It’s a fun parade. Everybody’s happy, you know? Of course, the Irish people are that way.”
Enthusiasm abounded at the two-hour parade, despite a shortage of decked-out floats and big marching bands. Typical participants tried their best to imitate celebrity waves from the backs of trucks advertising local companies and clubs.
Gleaming Harley-Davidsons chugged through town with green tinsel streaming from the handlebars. A man handed out green plastic chips for free beer at the 619 Tavern, waving away two girls who looked like high school kids.
The color permeated the throngs: a green bow tie on a dog collar, green ribbon woven in a grandmother’s gray braid, a tray of green desserts at Nordstrom’s coffee bar.
About 2,000 volunteers helped plan the downtown event, organized by the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick. Only the Bloomsday run and the Lilac Festival attract more people.
From their seats on the curb, children dived for candy, scooping handfuls into their pockets and mouths. Their parents chuckled at Sacred Heart Medical Center’s Irish Rock Band, which boasted musicians who clacked together green-painted rocks.
Jenine Brinser, 20, sat on the steps of the Riverfront Park Carrousel, wearing clown makeup and telling kids to call her Lou-lou.
“I could do this for a living,” said Brinser, a former waitress who decided to dress up on a whim.
Toddlers adored her, hugging her legs and shrieking their appreciation when she juggled balls and stamped shamrocks on their hands.
A year-old, green-spotted Dalmatian stole the limelight wherever he went, thanks to his creative owners and a tube of paint.
“It was hard to get him to sit still while we were painting him,” said Cory Lobdell, 21.
“It took both of us,” said LaRae Massey, 20. “One to hold him, one to paint.”
Two teenage girls from Japan took pictures of the celebration to show friends back home.
“I have never in Japan seen such a big party,” said Maiko Kitamizu, 19. “Green, green, green, green.”
She and Makiko Kurokawa, also 19, didn’t understand St. Patrick’s Day before the parade and failed to wear the traditional color.
“We’re a little afraid,” Kitamizu said, making a pinching gesture.
Near the end of the route, Helen Fisher had a different problem.
“Get out there, Chris!” she yelled as her 8-year-old nephew stood empty-handed near the curb.
The parade was half over and Chris Jones had collected just one piece of candy and a balloon.
“He’s not aggressive enough,” Fisher said, as other youngsters charged in front of him. “He doesn’t want to hurt anybody.”
Chris didn’t seem to mind. He laughed at the firetrucks and the men on tall bicycles and waved back at politicians he’d never heard of.
Besides, Fisher knew he’d have lots more time to catch candy. The St. Patrick’s Day parade is a favorite family tradition.
“It’s just a break in the monotony,” Fisher said. “It means springtime is here and winter is gone. Hopefully.”
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