Hundreds of spirited Memphians turned up Saturday on Beale Street for the 49th annual Silky Sullivan St. Patrick’s Parade. 

“We’re thinking of this as the kickoff to spring and hopefully, all things normal,” Silky O’Sullivan’s owner Joellyn Sullivan said. “This is the beginning of our path out of the pandemic.”

Sullivan, widow of the late Beale Street restaurateur Thomas ‘Silky’ Sullivan, said the parade’s return symbolizes not merely a celebration of heritage, but also a turning point for the city after two years plagued by the pandemic.

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Participating organizations include the Shelby County Sheriff’s Department, the Memphis Fire Department, Murphy’s of Midtown Memphis, and The Memphis Redbirds. 

The parade is included in a full week of commemorations, including a motor caravan to pick up visiting dignitaries on March 10, the Africa in April Salutes Ireland luncheon on March 11 and the pub crawl and raising of the goat on St. Patrick’s Day, March 17.

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Due to COVID lockdowns the parade was canceled in 2020 and held what was described as a “stripped-down version” of the parade in May of 2021. 

CEO of Memphis Tourism Kevin Kane was named king of this year’s parade for keeping Memphis tourism going despite the intense obstacles facing the industry over the last two years.

Kane, dressed in a light green cape with black shamrocks and riding in a horse-drawn carriage, shouted, “Happy St. Patrick’s everyone,” while tossing green Mardi Gras beads and candy into the crowd. 

Confetti rained from the sky and the crowded cheered wildly as parade Queen Peggy McNamara Flanagan waved to the crowd while riding in a vintage Rolls Royce driven by her father, Irish Eyes of Memphis co-founder and last year’s parade king, Mark Flanagan.

Parade attendee Jess Brill, 27, heard about the parade on the Downtown Memphis Instagram page.

“The closest I got to this kind of energy was when they were doing those free Thursday concerts Downtown during the Summer. It was the one time you would see people out during COVID with a good vibe and just happy to be outside,” Brill said. “I’m cool with outdoor activity post pandemic, so I was ready for this. It’s very freeing.”

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Memphis musician Colton Williams, 32, ended up at the parade by chance after heading to Beale Street to see friends. 

“It’s awesome. I happened to come to hang downtown on Beale Street and didn’t know this was going on today so it’s a great surprise,” Williams said. “I was coming down Second Street and I saw everyone and said, ‘what’s going on?’ It’s great to be out and seeing everybody have so much fun.” 

Organizers of the parade are complying with current COVID requirements including antiseptic washing stations set up all along Beale. Though masks mandates have been lifted, parade-goers were encouraged to take any reasonable personal safety measures they deem appropriate.