it was a fine, slightly windy, slightly cool, slightly cold at times but a fine day for a St. Patrick's Day Parade and Festival. i am not sure if it ranks high in polls for best St. Patrick's Day Parades but it is always entertaining to watch local parades. it reminded me of the one i saw last year on the 4th of July on Bainbridge Island which is a 30 minute ferry ride from Seattle. this one was smaller but seeing local girl scout troops and little league baseball teams march by or shall i saw stroll by giving candy to children sitting curbside was nostalgicly (hmmm, maybe that is not a real word) fun. i remember the happy-go-lucky Irish Setters from a few years ago at my first Hermosa Beach St. Patrick's Day Parade and Festival. back then it was a 2-day festival with vendors and a entertainment area for kids but this year it was taken over by the City of Hermosa Beach and for some reason became only a parade and then music on one stage. the music was also very entertaining and provided by Wrath of McGrath . unfortunately the wind from the ocean was very cool/cold. sometimes, you could feel the sand from the beach which is a good thing if you are on the beach but not such a good thing when you are sitting/standing 30 yards from the beach. the stage was in front of the bike path by the ocean and there is not much to block the wind... except for sitting behind someone. i stayed for two sets and heard the bagpipers twice and saw the cute young dancers of the Kelly School of Irish Dance twice before putting my skates back on and skating back against the wind to Redondo Beach. do not try to adjust your sets... this dog does have a slight green tint as did it's twin sister. 
there was lots of people out enjoying the day. both Irish bars along the Pier Avenue Promenade had people waiting in line to get in. there was lots to look at in Hermosa Beach yesterday (as there always is) but much more green... and pink.
you gotta have some pipers in a St. Paddy's Day Parade.
