Annual St. Patrick's Day Parade returns to San Francisco after 2-year pandemic pause

ByCornell Barnard KGO logo
Sunday, March 13, 2022
SF St. Patrick's Day Parade returns after 2-year pandemic pause
San Francisco's first St. Patrick's Day parade in three years returned to the city and thousands were there to see it go by.

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- There was a lot of green across San Francisco Saturday, as the first St. Patrick's Day parade in three years returned to the city and thousands were there to see it go by.



The sound of pipes and drums were echoing down Market Street.



The luck of the Irish has finally returned to San Francisco after a two year pandemic pause.





"It's so nice to be back, to see all these people its an opportunity to come together and celebrate, I mean come on, who doesn't like a nice parade down Market Street," said Lauren McCollom.



"It's good to have it back for sure, you miss meeting up with people around this time, the last couple of years it's been gone good to see the crowd out as well," said Brian Burke.



Thousands of people lined the street to see the 171st annual St. Patrick's Day Parade. The event was the first to vanish when COVID lockdown began in March 2020.



"We were one of the first to be postponed then canceled now we're one of the first to come back so it's fantastic," said Liam Frost president of United Irish Societies of San Francisco.



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Mayor London Breed was excited to see her city coming alive celebrating traditions again .



"Happy St. Patrick's Day, welcome back San Francisco," said Mayor Breed.



"You get to watch all these people marching around, it's entertaining," said Luna Tovar from Sacramento.



"I'm so happy this is back, it's awesome, without masks too," said Rolando Vega.



Many say this parade is yet another step forward on getting back to normal, a lucky day for everyone.



VIDEO: Patrick wore blue, not green: More myths, facts about St. Paddy's Day

In America, St. Patrick's Day means green clothes, green beer -- and even green rivers! But did you know St. Patrick most likely wore blue? Facts and myths about St. Paddy's Day:


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