A sea of green Downtown, as Pittsburgh celebrates a cold-brewed St. Patrick’s Day with parade, revelry
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Amid the sea of people dressed in green Saturday along the Boulevard of the Allies in downtown Pittsburgh, a white faux straw hat seemed to glow when the sun appeared from behind the stark, gray clouds.
Robert Weck was wearing it as he and some of his family enjoyed Pittsburgh’s annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
Weck, 84, of Dormont was all smiles as he and two of his daughters and a granddaughter were a foursome in the verdant sea of people on the sidewalk as the parade made its way by.
They’ve trekked downtown for the parade since his children were knee high, he said.
Now they’re full grown, and among them are Sandy Ciaramella, 57, of South Park and Tracy Weck of Clearwater, Fla. The blustery weather may have tamed some of the crowd, but it excited the family, especially Tracy, who got a taste of the worst of March — near-freezing temperatures coupled with a flurry of blowing snow — that she doesn’t get in the Sunshine State.
“I see snow, I see snow. It’s snowing,” Tracy said at one point as the parade, which bills itself at the second largest in the nation, made its way by. “The luck of the Irish to you!”
Kaitlyn Ciaramella, her mom Sandy, Sandy’s sister Tracy Weck and family patriarch Robert Weck enjoy the parade. Tracy, who now lives in Fla. was thrilled it was snowing. pic.twitter.com/h1F1u949Ry
— Tom Davidson (@TribDavidson) March 16, 2019
There were bagpipers, drum bands, mounted police, candy and lots of green beads.
Bagpipers on the Boulevard. pic.twitter.com/z20X4z3Q9A
— Tom Davidson (@TribDavidson) March 16, 2019
Families with young children, like Drew and Kate Spencer of McCandless, came down early for a walk around Market Square before making their way to the parade route.
“We’re Irish and wanted to bring the kids down and get free candy,” Drew Spencer said. “We just wish we had the weather we had on Friday.”
Ken and Holly Mathias drove into the city from Ambridge.
“We come to the parade every year,” Ken Mathias said. “ I’m Scottish and she’s Irish, so we have to come.”
Ken and Holly Mathias of Ambridge are decked out for the parade as they await it on the Boulevard of the Allies. He’s a Scot and she’s Irish, so “we have to come,” to the parade each year. pic.twitter.com/Jd6ZTSCVQ7
— Tom Davidson (@TribDavidson) March 16, 2019
Warner and Charlotte Siegfried of Upper St. Clair hosted Warner’s sister, Jan Schwartz, and her husband, Dan, of Kunkletown, which is in northeastern Pennsylvania.
Warner isn’t Irish but “married Irish.” The couple used folding camp chairs in a prime viewing spot along the Boulevard of the Allies to enjoy the festivities.
Dan Schwartz, Charlotte Siegfried, Jan Schwartz and Warren Siegfried have a prime spot on the Boulevard of the Allies. pic.twitter.com/Sz8e3TKEUv
— Tom Davidson (@TribDavidson) March 16, 2019
The parade was among the festivities in the region slated for Saturday because St. Patrick’s Day falls on Sunday. This year marked the sesquicentennial of the first Pittsburgh St. Patrick’s Day parade, which was held March 17, 1869.
It has been an annual tradition in the city since 1950. There were more than 23,000 participants this year, including 200 marching units and 18 bands.
More scenes from today’s St. Patrick’s Day parade in Pittsburgh. pic.twitter.com/v9CzVXTSmZ
— Tom Davidson (@TribDavidson) March 16, 2019
The Pittsburgh Steelers were represented as the team honored its late owner Dan Rooney on the 10th anniversary of his appointment as U.S. ambassador to Ireland. Members of the Rooney family and others in the Steelers organization rode in the parade.
Add some drums. pic.twitter.com/JBwYOieBfU
— Tom Davidson (@TribDavidson) March 16, 2019
A few short blocks away in Market Square, vendors sold greenery and customers lined up at places like Primanti Bros. New this year was a ban on open containers of alcohol, which meant that a number of people were carrying around disposable coffee cups and/or travel mugs, but the Tribune-Review didn’t observe any disturbances.
The Dormont-based Celtic rock band The Low Kings performed a rousing set of festive music that was enjoyed by people who may or may not have been drinking alcohol.
This is fun. pic.twitter.com/5Y4tay7W1a
— Tom Davidson (@kingofgonzo) March 16, 2019
More revelry. pic.twitter.com/jFKt1XYcng
— Tom Davidson (@kingofgonzo) March 16, 2019
The Low Kings perform “Zombie.” pic.twitter.com/iO4KK7IKn6
— Tom Davidson (@kingofgonzo) March 16, 2019
The end of The Low Kings performance. pic.twitter.com/Fv9cHdfmfA
— Tom Davidson (@kingofgonzo) March 16, 2019
“All went well, with no incidents,” Pittsburgh Public Safety spokesman Chris Togneri wrote in an email to the Tribune-Review.