Chilly But Splendid St. Patrick’s Parade (photos)

It was time to don your green apparel and put a shamrock in your buttonhole. The 46th edition of the Washington, D.C., St. Patrick’s Parade got underway up Constitution Avenue in near-freezing temperatures but under sunny skies Sunday, March 12. The two-and-a-half-hour parade began in the District in 1971 as a leisurely stroll up Massachusetts Avenue with just a few hundred participants. This year’s parade boasted the participation of more than 100 organizations and community groups. Officially celebrated on March 17, St. Patrick’s Day commemorates St. Patrick and the arrival of Christianity in Ireland.

*View Jeff Malet’s photos of the Irish dancers, bagpipers, floats, marching bands and military units by clicking on the photo icons below.*