Foto Friday: The luck o’ the Irish goes beyond March 17

I’ve noticed that some towns and cities do their St. Patrick’s Day celebrations in the weeks leading up on the day or in the week or so after. It’s obvious why places do it.

First, it’s probably because bands book up quickly. And, truthfully, it’s probably cheaper to get them in one of the off-weeks. In the end, it gives smaller places or other places to get some good talent and still have a fun St. Patrick’s Day celebration.

My area held its St. Patty’s Day celebration this past Saturday with a parade for the second straight year. It was a pretty decent day out (shorts and sweatshirt) and the parade drew a pretty solid crowd. It was longer and featured more acts than last year, too.

I couldn’t help but wonder if it was because they waited a week.

And truthfully, who cares if a town waits a week? It gives people more options.

And, it also makes for a good way to get some festive photos before or after St. Patty’s Day.

So this week’s Foto Friday is just about sharing some images from our area’s St. Patrick’s Day parade, held a week after the fact. But it was a great day, a pretty solid parade and fun couple of hours.

Make sure to check the end of this post, too, for a video of one of the bagpipe crews.

Here are some of my images from the event:

I’ll probably add more to the Flickr set, eventually, but there are about 10 in there now … if you want to see other shots from the parade!

And, as promised, here’s a video I took of the Schenectady Pipe Band performing Amazing Grace, followed by Scotland the Brave. Good stuff! (Turn the sound down, remember that pipes can be loud!)