Dressed in green and with candy bags open wide, kids and families lined the streets of downtown Soldotna on Thursday for the 31st annual Sweeney’s St. Patrick’s Parade.

Local organizations and businesses drove floats decorated with shamrocks and Irish flags during the event.

The parade was put on by the Soldotna Chamber of Commerce. The event was the first large gathering canceled by the chamber in March 2020, and was also the first to come back last year.

Shanon Davis, the executive director of the Soldotna Chamber, said she remembers having to make the decision to cancel the event two years ago, before anyone really knew how much of a threat the coronavirus was.

“I remember it just being heartbreaking canceling it in 2020,” she said.

Davis said that made it even sweeter to add it to last year’s schedule.

This year, she said she was impressed by the turnout of the event.

“I thought it went great,” Davis said. “It seemed to me like there were more people.”

This was the second year with a longer route, which she said people took advantage of.

Davis, who walked the entire route passing out candy, said there’s a certain amount of joy in being able to participate and wave and interact with folks on the sidewalk. Some people she talked to even said they had been in every parade since it started.

Davis said everyone was gracious to be at the event Thursday.

“There’s a huge sense of community pride,” she said.

Reach reporter Camille Botello at camille.botello@peninsulaclarion.com.

Kids line the streets in Soldotna during the Sweeney’s St. Patrick’s Parade on March 17, 2022. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

Shanon Davis, the executive director of the Soldotna Chamber of Commerce, hands out candy during the Sweeny’s St. Patrick’s Parade in Soldotna on March 17, 2022. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

Shanon Davis and Monique Burgin of the Soldotna Chamber of Commerce hand out candy during the Sweeney’s St. Patrick’s Parade in Soldotna on March 17, 2022. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

Shanon Davis and Monique Burgin of the Soldotna Chamber of Commerce hand out candy during the Sweeney’s St. Patrick’s Parade in Soldotna on March 17, 2022. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)