The Bellingham St. Patrick’s Day Parade, a nonprofit, celebrated its annual race and parade on March 11, ahead of St. Patrick’s Day, which is observed on March 17.
The parade is held in honor of Bellingham police and fire departments and is a chance to celebrate businesses, groups, schools and nonprofits in the community, according to the Bellingham St. Patrick’s Day Parade website.
Festivities kicked off with the Runnin’ O’ the Green 5K and 8K races. Michael Finley won the 5K race with a time of 17:28.4, and James Wenzel won the 8K race with a time of 26:00.4. At noon, the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office and Bellingham Police Department led the parade from Waypoint Park to Boundary Bay Brewery. Music was played by the Bellingham Pipe Band and the Sehome Marching Band, among others. People watched from curbs, apartment windows and construction sites as dancers, floats, bikes and cars went by. Horses and their riders from the Skagit Latin Horse Association trotted through at the rear.