San Gabriel Valley : Volunteers Revive St. Patrick’s Parade and Festival

When Peter Dills and some of his part-Irish friends first thought of reviving the Pasadena St. Patrick’s Parade, they had no idea how much green it would take.

With seemingly every department in Pasadena charging organizers for permits and licenses, Dills said, he and his friends will have to front a few thousand dollars to host the free event.

That’s quite a pot o’gold for eight volunteers. But the city said the fees are not meant to deter the parade, scheduled for noon Sunday.

“He couldn’t quite understand why there was a charge for the loss of revenue for parking meters [that will be blocked by the parade],” said Bill Soto, city engineer. “It’s set up by the Municipal Code.”

Dills said he hopes to get the City Council to waive the $395 fee for loss of parking meter revenue. He will still have to pay the police $1,000 for their services, and said he doesn’t yet know how much insurance will cost.

The event is simple. No live television coverage, no tickets, no big deal.

Rose Parade Grand Marshal Kermit the Frog, though green, has not been invited. Instead, the crowd will choose a king and queen by a voice vote from 2 to 6 p.m. today at Moose McGillycuddy’s Bar on Colorado Boulevard.

The parade will start behind the Market City Cafe on Mills Alley and end at the train station across the street from Central Park for a five-hour festival. Featuring music and an Irish stew cook-off, the festival will cost $4 for adults and $2 per child. Proceeds will go to local charities.