The Salt Lake City St. Patrick's Day parade was a very wet and cold morning experience. We go every year to see Emma and her lifelong friend, Sarah, dancing down the street with the Crawford Irish Dance School. Alex loves the day, and he has gone with us for several years. His mother was able to go with us this year.  Alex brings a sack with him, holds it open at the side of the street, and the paraders drop candy and treats into his sack. It is easier than Halloween.  Here is our little leprechaun, Alex, before the parade and the rain. We usually stand at the northeast corner of the Gateway across the street from Old Navy. A few years ago, we were about the only people who stood along that street. Now several more families have found this area, which is the least crowded, best view, and most candy.  Most of the Irish danced schools either march/dance along the parade route or have a truck pulling a platform for the dancers to perform on as they move down the line. Crawford School dances down the street, and they always have a huge group. To me, it looks like they have the most dancers of all the schools, at least in the parade. We were happy that the dance schools were performing after the parade in the Union Pacific Building. We always eat lunch at the California Pizza Kitchen. We had only a twenty minute wait this year. The rain sent a lot of people home early, and Gateway was the least crowded I have ever seen it on St. Patrick's Day.

Here is Emma in middle of the second row with a big smile.

One of the many Pipe and Drum Bands pumping up the crowds!

Emma in the middle and Sarah on the left in the Union Pacific Building after the parade.

We caught another leprechaun!