St. Patrick’s Day Announcement

To the members of the float ensemble,
Every year the day after the Raleigh St. Patrick Day Parade I assess the damage and determine that this parade is the one I want to leave as my final memory. The pinnacle of what is and what can be done and the place where there is no room for improvement.  Then every year if by magic the winter wind comes and my mind wanders to bigger and better parade concepts, themes, and design.

This year that hasn’t really happened.

I guess I could call it inspiration block or perhaps a need to pass the torch but either way, I feel the time has come to go back to my first love of the parade in being a spectator. We’ve built music notes, bars, boats, and rockets. We wore costumes, threw candy, and danced. My sincerest hope is this continues for many years to come.

And who knows – maybe sitting on the sidelines for a year will reinvigorate what was lost. I don’t want to commit to anything definite except that this year I will be cheering you on from the crowd.

Thank you to everyone who has supported this effort over the past seven years. I like to think we have brought something unique to the parade and become a part of a great tradition in our city.

Off to conquer new worlds –