by Bea Peterson
When you schedule a parade for March in the northeast it’s a hit or miss deal. Some years there will be sunny skies and temperatures in the 50s. Other years you are not so lucky. Hoosick Falls has been holding St. Patrick’s Day parades for the last 20 years. The parade has gone on in snow and rain and good weather. This year was not bad… not great… but not bad. Folks didn’t have to climb over snowbanks. The Village woke up to falling snow. The snow stopped long before parade time, though the day was chilly and overcast. The gray skies didn’t dampen any spirits, and families and friends gathered along the parade route to view the bands and floats as they went by.
After the parade the Armory was packed with people enjoying the bands and the food. Others wandered to the various restaurants and pubs for food, drink and music. The Sand Bar held the Celtic Games with snow underfoot. It didn’t seem to hinder the competition. At the Immaculate Conception Church folks sampled Irish stew and judged which was best. There were games for the youngsters and music by the Brewster Family. Folks walked from one place to another through the Village, enjoying a day when everyone is Irish.
