173rd annual St. Patrick's Day Parade brought crowds to San Francisco
SAN FRANCISCO -- A variety of community and cultural groups working under an umbrella organization called the United Irish Societies of San Francisco hosted UniteSF 2024, which included the big 173rd annual St. Patrick's Day Parade on Saturday.
Thousands of people and more than a hundred floats moved along Market Street toward Civic Center Plaza where a free St. Patrick's Day party got going around 2 p.m.
The parade featured Irish step dancers, musicians and various trade groups, as well as some political groups pushing a re-unified Ireland.
Along with Irish food, drink and dance, the festival features performances by The Hooks (from Sligo, the county town in Ireland); Glide Ensemble and Change Band (playing gospel); and Dublin Soul (a soul-Irish fusion group with Tony Lindsay of Santana, Omega Rae of Van Morrison's band, traditional vocals by Amelia Hogan, and Ronan and Keith Mulligan from The Hooks, led by keyboardist Eamonn Flynn, who played on "The Commitments" soundtrack).
The planned entertainment also included tributes to late Irish titans Sinead O'Connor and Shane MacGowan. Visit the UniteSF website for more details on the festivities.