The New Ulm St. Patrick’s Day parade went all according to plan for their 59th running. With another year under their belt, the parade is still the longest-running St. Patrick’s Day parade in the state of Minnesota.

Groups like the Legion and New Ulm Battery were among the many to walk and drive through the parade. The parade was open invite, so anyone was allowed to walk in the parade. Many came out and donned their best green apparel and showed their enthusiasm for the Irish festivities.

St. Patrick’s Day Committee Co-Chair Pat Kearney said the weeks leading up to the parade were business as usual.

“It’s panic almost daily,” he said. “We can put this together as an hour if we had to, but we take longer than that.”

Pat Kearney stands with his float, which brought up the rear of the parade. The flag adorning the back of his float is an original flag displayed since the parade began 59 years ago.

While it was chilly last year as well, the abnormally warm winter meant the 20 degree temperatures Sunday came as a bit of a surprise. Kearney said even so, people always come out.

“It doesn’t [matter],” he said. “People come out, honestly.”

“They will show up,” Matt Dempsey said. “The thing is, it’s the right length for them to be out in the weather, no matter what. That’s important.”

Kearney said even though New Ulm is predominantly German, he is proud of the Irish parade and the involvement it receives.

“Our job is to teach the German how to have fun and smile,” he said.

People head into Jan’s Irish Pub (Kaiserhoff) to continue celebrating after another successful yet cold St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

Dan O’Connor served as this year’s Grand Marshal. His daughter Madalyn was crowned the Irish Queen. They’re descendants of Bill and Mary O’Connor, who helped to create the parade back in the mid-60s.

O’Connor said he’s been looking at the grand marshal position for a while, but had to wait for the right time.

“I’m on the committee and they’ve been asking me for a couple years,” he said. “I wanted to do this with my youngest daughter, and she’s been busy with high school and college sports. This year, it happened to work out.”

O’Connor agreed with Kearney and Dempsey on the weather. He said the cold would reinforce a St. Patrick’s day tradition.

“Usually when the weather’s like this, we can’t wait to get to the Kaiserhoff, have some green beer and some ribs, and sing some Irish songs with the Concord singers.” O’Connor said.

As a descendant of a parade founder, O’Connor said it was an honor to be the grand marshal. He said it’s awesome to be able to celebrate his heritage.

“I think everybody’s heritage is important to them,” O’Connor said. “For us to have a small community parade every year, on St. Patrick’s Day, it’s an honor.”

Those who weren’t finished after the parade went over to Jan’s Irish Pub (Kaiserhoff) to continue their celebration of St. Patrick’s Day.