Just weeks removed from Mardi Gras, downtown Mobile welcomed another parade Saturday afternoon as the Exchange Club of Mobile rolled its annual St. Patrick’s Day procession through the heart of the city.
Crowds gathered along the route starting around 2 p.m., many standing curbside without barricades to catch a glimpse of the floats and riders. The weather cooperated after days of rain along the Gulf Coast, with temperatures in the low-to-mid 70s and partly cloudy skies giving spectators a comfortable afternoon to watch the procession pass.
Even though the actual holiday was still a few days away, green was everywhere. Parade-goers turned out in every imaginable shade, from emerald and forest green to chartreuse, olive, lime and classic shamrock, embracing the spirit of the holiday well ahead of schedule.
The floats leaned into Irish folklore and playful costuming. One of the most talked-about entries featured a half-leprechaun, half-minotaur figure standing at the front of the float with a bow and arrow, flanked by smaller mythical characters tucked among leafy greenery. Riders from the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick’s kept things light as well, with one rider surprising the crowd by tossing carrots instead of the usual beads.
Throws were plentiful throughout the route, with strings of gold dice beads and green shamrock beads drawing enthusiastic cheers. Riders also handed out the parade staple of Moon Pies alongside a green taffy treat, keeping the crowd well supplied without the frenzy sometimes seen during Mardi Gras season.
The parade has become something of a tradition for the Exchange Club of Mobile, giving the community a reason to gather downtown again just weeks after Mardi Gras festivities wrapped up. For a city known nationally for its Carnival celebrations, the early St. Patrick’s Day parade offers a lower-key, family-friendly follow-up that keeps the parade season going a little longer each spring.
Organizers and longtime attendees say the event continues to draw steady crowds year after year, even with the official St. Patrick’s Day holiday still days off on the calendar. For many downtown Mobile residents and visitors, the early procession has become as much a marker of the changing season as the flowering azaleas that typically bloom around the same time each March.