Rachel Kelly, one of the event’s organizers, said there were just more than 25 entries in this year’s parade.

Tonganoxie police Chief Jeff Brandau presented a youth trophy to local Boy Scouts, while fire Chief Jack Holcom handed out the other youth trophy to the Girls Scouts.

The Jalapeños Mexican Grill float was named the grand champion. Jalapeños now gets to keep the traveling trophy until next year’s parade.

Overall first place came with $150 cash. Youth winners received $25.

“It rained but it turned out to be a very successful parade,” Kelly said. “There was a large crowd and the businesses did well with their lunches.”

Entrepreneurs Achieving Success Together sponsored the event. Parade committee members are Keyta Kelly, Monica Gee, Tammie McCutchen, Becky Pollard, Rachel Kelly and JW Evans. Kay Soetaert also helps with the parade lineup.

This year’s grand leprechaun was Tonganoxie City Attorney Mike Kelly.

Plenty of food and drink in the Irish theme was available Saturday also. The annual PEO corned beef and hash meal took place at Tonganoxie United Methodist Church, while Flashbacks Cafe had reuben sandwiches. Talette’s Cafe featured corned beef and hash. And the Myers Hotel Bar offered Irish coffee, Bailey’s and green beer.

The Tonganoxie High School Art Club painted the traditional green stripe down Fourth Street and decorated the intersection of Fourth and Bury streets with festive artwork and a nod to the parade’s founder, the late John McCaffrey.

McCaffrey is credited with organizing the first Tonganoxie St. Patrick’s Parade in the late 1980s and was involved with many more. A barber in Tonganoxie for 46 years, McCaffrey died in 2002. The parade has taken place in some form every year since that first parade in the 1980s.