Community turns out for St. Patrick’s parade

Sidewalks were lined with children — either wearing green or wearing snow gear — on Friday for the 32nd Annual Sweeney’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade hosted by the Soldotna Chamber of Commerce.

The parade began by traveling down Fireweed Street then turned onto Redoubt Avenue toward the Kenai Spur Highway, ending before the Y.

The parade included dozens of participating groups, featuring dinosaurs, ponies, Pikachu and candy. There wasn’t a sign-up process for the parade. Event flyers read “no need to sign up, just line up.” Churches, sports teams, the Girl Scouts, and several businesses were represented — all adorned in green.

Reach reporter Jake Dye at jacob.dye@peninsulaclarion.com.

Candy is thrown as the 32nd annual Sweeney’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade proceeds down Fireweed Street in Soldotna, Alaska on Friday, March 17, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

A child rides a pony as the 32nd annual Sweeney’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade proceeds down Fireweed Street in Soldotna, Alaska on Friday, March 17, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

A crowd of parents and children line the sidewalk as the 32nd annual Sweeney’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade proceeds down Fireweed Street in Soldotna, Alaska on Friday, March 17, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Gloria Sweeney and Mike Sweeney ride and wave as the 32nd annual Sweeney’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade proceeds down Fireweed Street in Soldotna, Alaska on Friday, March 17, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Green bead necklaces are passed out as the 32nd annual Sweeney’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade proceeds down Fireweed Street in Soldotna, Alaska on Friday, March 17, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

A woman in a big green hat passes out candy as the 32nd annual Sweeney’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade proceeds down Fireweed Street in Soldotna, Alaska on Friday, March 17, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Maddy McElrea hands out bead necklaces as the 32nd annual Sweeney’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade proceeds down Fireweed Street in Soldotna, Alaska on Friday, March 17, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Candy is thrown as the 32nd annual Sweeney’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade proceeds down Fireweed Street in Soldotna, Alaska on Friday, March 17, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

A herd of dinosaurs pass out candy as the 32nd annual Sweeney’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade proceeds down Fireweed Street in Soldotna, Alaska on Friday, March 17, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

A bear waves from the back of a truck as the 32nd annual Sweeney’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade proceeds down Fireweed Street in Soldotna, Alaska on Friday, March 17, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

A bag of Sour Patch Kids rest in the snow as the 32nd annual Sweeney’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade proceeds down Fireweed Street in Soldotna, Alaska on Friday, March 17, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Children walk and wave as the 32nd annual Sweeney’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade proceeds down Fireweed Street in Soldotna, Alaska on Friday, March 17, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)