Boundary Bay General Manager Janet Lightner loves St. Patrick’s Day. So much so that, during the St. Paddy season, she temporarily changes her email signature to Janet O’Lightner and always wears green for the first 17 days of March.
It should come as no surprise then that she’s the force behind the Bellingham St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
Always thrown in honor of the Bellingham Police and Fire Departments – to thank them for risking their lives every day for the safety of their community – this year’s parade takes place at noon on Saturday, March 15.
The parade route starts at the corner of Cornwall Avenue and Ohio Street and winds its way through downtown, ending just past Depot Market Square and Boundary Bay.
“I love parades,” Lightner says, laughing and recounting her motivation behind kick-starting the tradition. “And St. Patrick’s Day at Boundary has always been a super special day.”
The brewery has long hosted local Irish step dancers – who study at the Penk O’Donnell School of Irish Dance in Vancouver, B.C. – during the brewery’s annual St. Patrick’s Day festivities.
“We’ve watched these little Irish step dancers grow up,” Lightner says. “One will be 19 years old this fall and I’ve been throwing a celebration here for 17 years.”
Money earned each St. Patrick’s Day weekend at Boundary Bay helps pay for dancers to travel to Scotland to compete in world-class competitions.
“I always saw how much fun people have at Boundary on St. Patrick’s Day,” says Lightner, “and I said, ‘We need a parade!’”
It took a couple years to make it happen.
“I tried to do it six or seven years ago, but couldn’t get enough buy-in from whoever I was trying to corral,” Lightner says with a laugh. “And then I found the magical combination of volunteers; people around me rose to the occasion to help – and we did it!”
The parade costs about $3,500 annually, with security costs, sign rental, advertising, insurance, and so on. Lightner has pulled together an organizing committee and applied for nonprofit status.
“We don’t have federal approval yet, so we’ve got a little online fundraiser going on,” Lightner says. “We’ve raised about a $1,000 so far.” Donations can be made here.
On top of the online fundraiser, Sunrise Rotary has donated $500 and the Bellingham Farmers Market is sponsoring this year’s event with a $350 donation that will help pay for Blitz the Seahawk, who will make an appearance, along with a few Sea Gals and possibly some Seahawk alumni.
“We’re going to have a little Seahawk unit this year and I’m excited about that,” Lightner says.
The Bellingham St. Patrick’s Day strives to be a community event for everyone.
“If you’re standing on the sidewalk watching the parade and you’re so inspired you say, I’m gonna get in this parade!’ – you can just get in,” Lightner says. “It’s that user-friendly.”
Unless you have a big float or animals or something Lightner needs to orchestrate into the flow of the parade, she’s happy to welcome impromptu paraders.
“Show up with a bunch of parents, kids and baby strollers from your neighborhood and get in the parade,” she says. “It’s as easy as that.”
Lightner also welcomes live music and is excited to have the Squalicum High School Marching Band return this year.
“That’s kind of our holy grail,” she says. “I always want more marching bands.”
The Bellingham Firefighters Pipes & Drums also take part in the parade each year. The group formed the same year the parade began.
“They’ve been huge contributors,” says Lightner, and they’re also dear friends of mine.”
Lightner’s favorite part of each year’s parade is seeing the sidewalks lined with happy people.
“I think it’s kind of the end of hibernation,” she says. “It’s the first community event where everybody’s outside together. We’ve survived another dark, gray winter and the days are slowly getting longer.”
Whatever the weather, the crowds come out – everyone waving and shouts of “Happy St. Patrick’s Day” ringing through the air.
“The message, Lightner says, aside from celebrating St. Patrick’s Day, “seems to be: Yay! We’re outside again! And spring is right around the corner…”
All photos courtesy Bellingham St. Patrick’s Day parade.
