St. Patrick's Day observations have taken many forms over the years, but the parade has consistently been the most popular. In 1874, The Dispatch reported on three evenings of St. Patrick’s Day entertainment: the Opera House, the ball at City Hall and the “grand parade."

You don’t have to be Irish to participate in the Kansas City St. Patrick’s Day parade and it’s unlikely anyone is going to call you out if you want to pretend you are for just one day. Thousands of people lined the parade route along Broadway Boulevard Monday to see the annual celebration.