METHUEN — After a six-year hiatus, green garb, Irish dancers and a whole lot of charm returned to the Merrimack Valley on Saturday.
It was the first St. Patrick’s Day parade held in the city in recent memory, according to organizers. The event had previously been held in Lawrence but failed to return after it was canceled in 2020 due to the pandemic.
The parade began at noon at Nicholson Stadium and snaked around town all the way to the Pelham Street Park and Ride. Along the way, onlookers were met by Irish music and dance performances at a handful of locations.
There was also a showing from local and regional first responders.
The parade cost an estimated $50,000, according to city documents.
The event was supported by the city’s Edwin J. Castle Fund as well as individual donations. A fundraiser at The Irish Cottage Restaurant & Pub in January drew a few hundred people.
The Greater Haverhill Chamber of Commerce and the newly formed Methuen Business Alliance were also involved in the planning.