Elizabeth Eagle or 'the lucky leprechaun' walks down Tejon Street as she entertains the crowd during the annual St. Patrick's Day parade in downtown Colorado Springs on Saturday March 17, 2018. (Dougal Brownlie, The Gazette). (DOUGAL BROWNLIE, THE GAZETTE)
Downtown Colorado Springs was as green as it gets Saturday as “record” crowds lined streets for the annual St. Patrick’s Day parade and celebrated their – or someone else’s – Irish heritage.
The festivities kicked off at noon, but Tejon Street was a sea of spectators mostly clad in green pants, shirts, jackets, hats, scarves and beads at least an hour before the parade began. One organizer declared it a “record-breaking” turnout.
“We had a total of 109 floats from all across the state,” said Joe Poch, a n event manager for the St. Patrick’s Day celebration – which included a bike ride, footraces and the parade.
The Pikes Peak Library District’s mobile library – a 32-foot monster that sits on a heavy-duty bus chassis – was followed by several DeLoreans, the gull-wing door car of “Back to the Future” fame.
Soldiers from Fort Carson, the Air Force Academy cadet marching band, llamas, basset hounds and classic cars followed.
Enclosed patios outside bars and restaurants along Tejon Street packed them in like sardines while families made themselves at home in foldout chars and on blankets.
“This was definitely a record-breaking year,” said Poch. He could not provide an exact figure for how many people attended but said it was easily several thousand.
Poch said there were two things that made this year’s parade such a success: the weather was beautiful, more reminiscent of early summer than final days of winter; and it was held on St. Patrick’s Day – something that only happens once every five years in Colorado Springs.
Tiffany Ramirez and her daughter, Sophia drove down from Fort Collins, a tradition for the family.
“We try to make it every year,” Ramirez said as Sophia clapped along to bagpipes. “I think she just likes all the interaction, all the stuff happening.”
Ramirez’s friend Jaime Rowland and her two children – Ryan and Elizabeth – have made it to every parade for the past six years.
As the bagpipes marched down Tejon Street, Ryan turned to his mom and said he loved the parade, “because … they throw out candy.”
Elizabeth Eagle or ‘the lucky leprechaun’ walks down Tejon Street as she entertains the crowd during the annual St. Patrick’s Day parade in downtown Colorado Springs on Saturday March 17, 2018. (Dougal Brownlie, The Gazette). (DOUGAL BROWNLIE, THE GAZETTE)Patric Ryan, right, dressed a leprechaun gives out high-fives to the children on both sides of Tejon Street as he walked with the Westie Rescue Network during the annual St. Patrick’s Day parade in downtown Colorado Springs on Saturday March 17, 2018 as tens of thousands that showed up for the event. (Dougal Brownlie, The Gazette). (DOUGAL BROWNLIE, THE GAZETTE)The rangerettes of the Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo make their way down Tejon Street for the annual St. Patrick’s Day parade in downtown Colorado Springs on Saturday March 17, 2018. (Dougal Brownlie, The Gazette). (DOUGAL BROWNLIE, THE GAZETTE)Marty Tinianow, a dog owner three Westies – Gizmo, Jesse, and Duncan, gives treats to his pets as well as other owners before the start of the annual St. Patrick’s Day parade in downtown Colorado Springs on Saturday March 17, 2018. Tinianow and others are part of the Westie Rescue Network. (Dougal Brownlie, The Gazette). (DOUGAL BROWNLIE, THE GAZETTE)Members of the Pikes Peak Highlanders Pipes & Drums make their way down Tejon Street for the annual St. Patrick’s Day parade in downtown Colorado Springs on Saturday March 17, 2018. (Dougal Brownlie, The Gazette). (DOUGAL BROWNLIE, THE GAZETTE)Tejon Street was packed as people enjoyed the annual St. Patrick’s Day parade and festivities in downtown Colorado Springs on Saturday March 17, 2018. (Dougal Brownlie, The Gazette). (DOUGAL BROWNLIE, THE GAZETTE)Tejon Street was packed as around 2,000 runners gathered at the start line by Acacia Park for the beginning of the annual St. Patrick’s Day 5k run that started a little after 10 a.m. and at noon the parade is scheduled to begin in downtown Colorado Springs on Saturday March 17, 2018 (Dougal Brownlie, The Gazette). (DOUGAL BROWNLIE, THE GAZETTE)Tejon Street was packed as people enjoyed the annual St. Patrick’s Day parade and festivities in downtown Colorado Springs on Saturday March 17, 2018. (Dougal Brownlie, The Gazette). (DOUGAL BROWNLIE, THE GAZETTE)Around 2,000 runners make their way down Tejon Street during the annual St. Patrick’s Day 5k run that started a little after 10 a.m. and at noon the parade is scheduled to begin in downtown Colorado Springs on Saturday March 17, 2018 (Dougal Brownlie, The Gazette). (DOUGAL BROWNLIE, THE GAZETTE)Around 2,000 runners make their way down Tejon Street during the annual St. Patrick’s Day 5k run that started a little after 10 a.m. and at noon the parade is scheduled to begin in downtown Colorado Springs on Saturday March 17, 2018 (Dougal Brownlie, The Gazette). (DOUGAL BROWNLIE, THE GAZETTE)Savannah Matthews, 9, has dinosaurs from Funky Dino Bros Theatre as her mom takes a photo of them before the start of the St. Patrick’s Day parade that took place on Tejon Street in downtown Colorado Springs on Saturday March 17, 2018. (Dougal Brownlie, The Gazette). (DOUGAL BROWNLIE, THE GAZETTE)The Colorado Springs Fire Department local 5 make their way down Tejon Street that was packed as people enjoyed the annual St. Patrick’s Day parade in downtown Colorado Springs on Saturday March 17, 2018. (Dougal Brownlie, The Gazette). (DOUGAL BROWNLIE, THE GAZETTE)The St. Mary’s high school girls basketball team drives by with their first place state trophy, a first in the school’s program, during the annual St. Patrick’s Day parade in downtown Colorado Springs on Saturday March 17, 2018. (Dougal Brownlie, The Gazette). (DOUGAL BROWNLIE, THE GAZETTE)Members of Tony’s are dressed as apes as they make their way down Tejon Street for the annual St. Patrick’s Day parade and festivities in downtown Colorado Springs on Saturday March 17, 2018. (Dougal Brownlie, The Gazette). (DOUGAL BROWNLIE, THE GAZETTE)Members of the El Paso County 4-H Club lead their llamas down Tejon Street for the annual St. Patrick’s Day parade in downtown Colorado Springs on Saturday March 17, 2018. (Dougal Brownlie, The Gazette). (DOUGAL BROWNLIE, THE GAZETTE)Members of the Lucky Scooter Gang get ready before their turn to join the St. Patrick’s Day parade that took place on Tejon Street in downtown Colorado Springs on Saturday March 17, 2018. (Dougal Brownlie, The Gazette). (DOUGAL BROWNLIE, THE GAZETTE)Members of the Pikes Peak Highlanders Pipes & Drums make their way down Tejon Street for the annual St. Patrick’s Day parade in downtown Colorado Springs on Saturday March 17, 2018. (Dougal Brownlie, The Gazette). (DOUGAL BROWNLIE, THE GAZETTE)Bishop Michael John Sheridan of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Colorado Springs waves to people on the side of Tejon Street during the annual St. Patrick’s Day parade in downtown Colorado Springs on Saturday March 17, 2018. (Dougal Brownlie, The Gazette). (DOUGAL BROWNLIE, THE GAZETTE)Wendy Mike balances on her high wheel as crowds of people line Tejon Street for the annual St. Patrick’s Day parade in downtown Colorado Springs on Saturday March 17, 2018. (Dougal Brownlie, The Gazette). (DOUGAL BROWNLIE, THE GAZETTE)Skysox mascot Sox the fox interacts with a young fan on the side of Tejon Street during the annual St. Patrick’s Day parade in downtown Colorado Springs on Saturday March 17, 2018. (Dougal Brownlie, The Gazette). (DOUGAL BROWNLIE, THE GAZETTE)Tejon Street was packed as people enjoyed the annual St. Patrick’s Day parade and festivities in downtown Colorado Springs on Saturday March 17, 2018. (Dougal Brownlie, The Gazette). (DOUGAL BROWNLIE, THE GAZETTE)Patric Ryan, right, dressed a leprechaun gives out high-fives to the children on both sides of Tejon Street as he walked with the Westie Rescue Network during the annual St. Patrick’s Day parade in downtown Colorado Springs on Saturday March 17, 2018 as tens of thousands that showed up for the event. (Dougal Brownlie, The Gazette). (DOUGAL BROWNLIE, THE GAZETTE)Marty Tinianow, a dog owner three Westies – Gizmo, Jesse, and Duncan, gives treats to his pets as well as other owners before the start of the annual St. Patrick’s Day parade in downtown Colorado Springs on Saturday March 17, 2018. Tinianow and others are part of the Westie Rescue Network. (Dougal Brownlie, The Gazette). (DOUGAL BROWNLIE, THE GAZETTE)Elizabeth Eagle or ‘the lucky leprechaun’ walks down Tejon Street as she entertains the crowd during the annual St. Patrick’s Day parade in downtown Colorado Springs on Saturday March 17, 2018. (Dougal Brownlie, The Gazette). (DOUGAL BROWNLIE, THE GAZETTE)Tejon Street was packed as around 2,000 runners gathered at the start line by Acacia Park for the beginning of the annual St. Patrick’s Day 5k run that started a little after 10 a.m. and at noon the parade is scheduled to begin in downtown Colorado Springs on Saturday March 17, 2018 (Dougal Brownlie, The Gazette). (DOUGAL BROWNLIE, THE GAZETTE)Tejon Street was packed as people enjoyed the annual St. Patrick’s Day parade and festivities in downtown Colorado Springs on Saturday March 17, 2018. (Dougal Brownlie, The Gazette). (DOUGAL BROWNLIE, THE GAZETTE)Around 2,000 runners make their way down Tejon Street during the annual St. Patrick’s Day 5k run that started a little after 10 a.m. and at noon the parade is scheduled to begin in downtown Colorado Springs on Saturday March 17, 2018 (Dougal Brownlie, The Gazette). (DOUGAL BROWNLIE, THE GAZETTE)Around 2,000 runners make their way down Tejon Street during the annual St. Patrick’s Day 5k run that started a little after 10 a.m. and at noon the parade is scheduled to begin in downtown Colorado Springs on Saturday March 17, 2018 (Dougal Brownlie, The Gazette). (DOUGAL BROWNLIE, THE GAZETTE)Savannah Matthews, 9, has dinosaurs from Funky Dino Bros Theatre as her mom takes a photo of them before the start of the St. Patrick’s Day parade that took place on Tejon Street in downtown Colorado Springs on Saturday March 17, 2018. (Dougal Brownlie, The Gazette). (DOUGAL BROWNLIE, THE GAZETTE)The Colorado Springs Fire Department local 5 make their way down Tejon Street that was packed as people enjoyed the annual St. Patrick’s Day parade in downtown Colorado Springs on Saturday March 17, 2018. (Dougal Brownlie, The Gazette). (DOUGAL BROWNLIE, THE GAZETTE)The St. Mary’s high school girls basketball team drives by with their first place state trophy, a first in the school’s program, during the annual St. Patrick’s Day parade in downtown Colorado Springs on Saturday March 17, 2018. (Dougal Brownlie, The Gazette). (DOUGAL BROWNLIE, THE GAZETTE)Members of Tony’s are dressed as apes as they make their way down Tejon Street for the annual St. Patrick’s Day parade and festivities in downtown Colorado Springs on Saturday March 17, 2018. (Dougal Brownlie, The Gazette). (DOUGAL BROWNLIE, THE GAZETTE)Members of the El Paso County 4-H Club lead their llamas down Tejon Street for the annual St. Patrick’s Day parade in downtown Colorado Springs on Saturday March 17, 2018. (Dougal Brownlie, The Gazette). (DOUGAL BROWNLIE, THE GAZETTE)Members of the Lucky Scooter Gang get ready before their turn to join the St. Patrick’s Day parade that took place on Tejon Street in downtown Colorado Springs on Saturday March 17, 2018. (Dougal Brownlie, The Gazette). (DOUGAL BROWNLIE, THE GAZETTE)Members of the Pikes Peak Highlanders Pipes & Drums make their way down Tejon Street for the annual St. Patrick’s Day parade in downtown Colorado Springs on Saturday March 17, 2018. (Dougal Brownlie, The Gazette). (DOUGAL BROWNLIE, THE GAZETTE)Bishop Michael John Sheridan of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Colorado Springs waves to people on the side of Tejon Street during the annual St. Patrick’s Day parade in downtown Colorado Springs on Saturday March 17, 2018. (Dougal Brownlie, The Gazette). (DOUGAL BROWNLIE, THE GAZETTE)Wendy Mike balances on her high wheel as crowds of people line Tejon Street for the annual St. Patrick’s Day parade in downtown Colorado Springs on Saturday March 17, 2018. (Dougal Brownlie, The Gazette). (DOUGAL BROWNLIE, THE GAZETTE)Skysox mascot Sox the fox interacts with a young fan on the side of Tejon Street during the annual St. Patrick’s Day parade in downtown Colorado Springs on Saturday March 17, 2018. (Dougal Brownlie, The Gazette). (DOUGAL BROWNLIE, THE GAZETTE)Members of the Pikes Peak Highlanders Pipes & Drums make their way down Tejon Street for the annual St. Patrick’s Day parade in downtown Colorado Springs on Saturday March 17, 2018. (Dougal Brownlie, The Gazette). (DOUGAL BROWNLIE, THE GAZETTE)The rangerettes of the Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo make their way down Tejon Street for the annual St. Patrick’s Day parade in downtown Colorado Springs on Saturday March 17, 2018. (Dougal Brownlie, The Gazette). (DOUGAL BROWNLIE, THE GAZETTE)
