Ventura County St. Patrick’s Day Parade celebrates 29th year

The 29th annual Ventura County St. Patrick’s Day Parade entertained crowds lining Main St. in Ventura on Saturday.

One of the most popular floats popped. James Wortman photographed the pig as it collapsed before it went by the judges’ stand.

But that didn’t stop the pig mobile, it kept going.

The parade included, live music, high school marching band and flag teams, beauty queens, and athletic teams.

Pro Surfer Mary Osborne served as Grand Marshall of the parade with “The Sporting Life:The Games We Play,” theme.

Politicians including California State Senator Hannah-Beth Jackson, Congresswoman Julia Brownley and Oxnard Mayor Tim Flynn took part.

Local business owner Patrick Mullins, who is from Dublin, Ireland and watched the parade go by from his salon, Celtic Carma. Mullins said St. Patrick’s Day parades started in a United States to celebrate Irish immigrants. He said he is glad America embraces his Irish culture.

One of the floats at the end of the parade was a car totalled in a drunk driving crash.

Ventura police towed the damaged car as a reminder not to drink and drive on St. Patrick’s Day or anyday.