AUGUSTA, Ga. (WFXG) - THE CITY OF AUGUSTA AND IRISH-AMERICAN HERITAGE SOCIETY HOSTED IT’S 2023 ST. PATRICK'S DAY PARADE

IT WAS A DAY FILLED WITH FUN, MUSIC AND many GREEN FLOATS.

FOR THOSE WITH IRISH HERITAGE, the holiday is very meaningful. PEGGY LOVELACE WAS BORN IN AUGUSTA AND HAS BEEN A MEMBER OF THE IRISH-AMERICAN HERITAGE SOCIETY SOCIETY FOR YEARS. Lovelace says IT’S A FULL CIRCLE MOMENT to see the CITY she calls home EMBRACing HER CULTURE.

“WELL, IT’S JUST A HOLIDAY OF THE IRISH AND THE IRISH SPIRIT AND HOW FAR WE’VE COME,” Lovelace says. "I LOOK BACK ON BOOKS THAT I’VE READ BEFORE AND IN BOSTON WHEN WE CAME OVER, THERE ARE BOOKS THAT SHOW PICTURES OF WHERE THEY APPLIED FOR JOBS AND IT SAID IRISH AND DOGS NEED NOT APPLY. BUT, HERE WE ARE.”

OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS, MANY city EVENTS HAD TO BE CANCELED DUE TO THE PANDEMIC. PATRONS in attendance say they ARE EXCITED TO HAVE THE FESTIVITIES BACK IN DOWNTOWN AUGUSTA AGAIN.

THE PARADE IS THE START OF A WEEKEND OF FESTIVITIES. TO CELEBRATE THE FESTIVAL, AUGUSTA COMMON HOSTED LIVE MUSIC AND A VARIETY OF VENDORS Friday evening.

Visit Augusta has more information on a few of the events HAPPENING OVER THE WEEKEND.

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