ASHLAND — Strong winds Friday weren’t enough to slow Saturday’s downtown St. Patrick’s Day festivities in Ashland.
Folks donning green, gold and white filled Foundation Plaza on Saturday morning while festive beads and hats were handed out to those in attendance.
Roaring winds Friday afternoon and into the evening left thousands of Ashland County residents without power heading into the weekend. But Mayor Matt Miller said city crews ventured out around 2 a.m. Saturday morning to begin decorating the downtown.
The mayor thanked the city and local power crews for working hard under difficult conditions through the night and into the early morning hours, allowing Saturday’s festivities to go off without a hitch.
As socialization carried on at Foundation Plaza, attendees were treated to performances from Wooster’s Cedar Valley Cloggers and The Amazing Giants out of Columbus. The Ashland Kilt Brigade was also out in full force.
The city’s annual St. Patrick’s Day walking parade made its way down Main Street to Corner Park as folks gathered around to watch Center Run creek turn green.
Miller and his wife, State Rep. Melanie Miller, were joined in the creek dyeing this year by 13 young people who were selected as winners of a coloring contest launched by the mayor’s office.
Miller said 140 submissions were received in total.
Four attendees at Foundation Plaza were also selected as “Ashland’s Shiniest Shamrocks,” for their festive costumes and attire.
Below are photos from Saturday’s St. Patrick’s Day festivities in downtown Ashland.
Credit: Hayden Gray
