Video by Laura Garber
Photos by Kenny Ingle (KennyIngle.com)
The Hermosa Beach Saint Patrick’s Day Parade celebrated its 29th anniversary in downtown Hermosa Beach on Saturday, March 15, with nearly 100 entries. Parade founders Jean Cullen and J. Travers, both of whom have passed away, were remembered by being named Honorary Grand Marshals.
Hermosa Beach Woman of the Year, and Sandpipers Woman of the Year Liz Tyndorf was the Parade Grand Marshall.
Entries included Irish dancers, bagpipers, and marching bands. Civic groups were also well represented, including the Hermosa Woman’s Club, Kiwanis, St. Cross Church, Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, the Hermosa Beach Little League Bark for a Park, and the Hermosa Chamber Foundation, which produced the parade.
“It seemed like there were more participants than spectators,” quipped Mayor Dean Francois, though that was not the case. The parade, which almost didn’t happen because of financial concerns, appeared to be the best attended since Cullen and Travers founded the parade in 1995. ER
Kevin, If at all possible, Please include this letter in this weeks ER, Thx, Rick
GOAT (Greatest Of All Time) HB Parade
I want to thank The Hermosa Chamber of Commerce Foundation, the City of Hermosa Beach and Bell Events for bringing this year’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade to fruition. For almost 30 years it has been my honor to assist as a stage announcer. Our parade has always been a locally orientated treat for thousands of spectators and participants alike. Many of the participants that I acknowledged off the script have been friends of mine for decades. This year was even more special and I am not sure exactly why. The weather, the vibe, the crowd whatever it was. Let’s just call it the ‘je ne sais quoi”(a quality that cannot be described easily). My friends and neighbors have gone out of their way to share with me what a wonderful experience it was for them this year above and beyond past years being the reason I felt compelled to shout out Kudos to all the parties involved. On top of everything else, it was a real pleasure working with a real professional like Rick Dickert as his co-announcer. Whatever it takes, let’s make sure our parade returns every year. Rick Koenig – Longtime Hermosanite