St. Patrick's Day in Portal, it's a Parade

Portal AZ's annual St. Patrick's Day parade took place today and the turnout included not only local residents from Portal, Rodeo, and around the San Simon Valley but campers from the campgrounds in Cave Creek Canyon also attended.  The Grand Marshal this year was Rick Beno from Arizona Sky Village and of course St. Patrick (who winters in Portal) was here.  And what would St. Patrick's Day be without some daytime astronomy.  A solar telescope was set up next to the Post Office to view the sun.

Parade dancing

The return parade lap

Solar astronomy at the parade

Portal Arizona's St. Patrick's Parade

Things are always a little behind schedule in the bubble and St. Patrick's Day celebrations were no exception.  St. Patrick's Day was on the 17th but Portal, not to be left out, celebrated the event Saturday morning with a parade and refreshments at the Myrtle Kraft Library in Portal Arizona.  Saturday mornings parade saw the Portal Rescue fire engine and ambulance as well as an entry from the Arizona Sky Village and a beautiful Porsche Roadster.  There was a Grand Marshal and of course a marching band.  The parade started down Rock House Road proceeding past the library and post office down to the Portal Peak Lodge.   Then the parade turned around and came back up the road finishing at the library where there were cookies and punch along with speeches, awards, and a good old fashioned sing a long.  Below are a few highlight photographs from the event.  Of course the spring weather was perfect and it was a great day for a parade.

Shamrock on Rock House Rd

The Grand Marshal in a mini Dreams carriage

St. Patrick

Marching band