St. Patrick’s Day Parade

Photos by Zach Polka

Crowds blanketed the city sidewalks and overflowed into the streets in Des Moines on March 17. Kids pushed their way to the front of the crowd to catch flying candy, thrown from floats and parade marchers. Police officers stood guard, keeping the chaos and excitement from becoming out of hand.

The green, black, and white painted faces produced laughter and cheers that rang down Locust Street, from 15th St. to the parade’s end at the Embassy Suites on East 1st St.

Vehicles, decorated with proud Irish colors, rolled down the street for judgment by a panel, perched in a row of chairs on the back of a flat-bed truck.

By the end of the day, downtown Des Moines glittered with candy wrappers and green decorations left behind by parade-goers. Residents made their way home with families, or made their way to bars with friends, leaving streets with a look at the Irish pride this city has.

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