150-yard, minutes-long parade to bar draws hundreds

CONKLIN, Mich. -- Hundreds of people flocked to the tiny Ottawa County village of Conklin, Mich., Thursday for the annual St. Patrick's Day parade that has made the little town famous.

The parade kicked off promptly at 10:55 a.m., and if you weren't there you likely missed it, WZZM-TV reports.

The route is only about 150 yards long from the start of the parade until participants make a right turn into the Conklin Bar's front door where the house was packed all day and night. Irish music played and the Guinness flowed.

The Grand Rapids Catholic Central marching band participated in the parade, as did other Irish musicians, floats, and of course, people in all kinds of green costumes.

The Conklin Bar used to be known as Fenian's, now it's under new ownership, but the new owners knew they wanted to keep the St. Paddy's Day parade tradition going.