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Four-year-old Grace Butterworth’s eyes widened as the Naples 30th annual St. Patrick’s Day parade began strolling down the street Saturday.
Grace, who wore an oversized soft St. Patrick’s hat and a green beard, was among thousands of attendees decked in green enjoying a celebration of traditional Irish fare as 127 community organizations, businesses, school bands and groups marched in the parade, while scrambling to collect candy along 11th Avenue South during the parade.
Grace was at her first parade with her grandmother, Carol McKinnon, a Naples resident, who wore a cloverleaf boa. Grace, her mother, and Grace’s two brothers are visiting from Boston.
Smiling, she watched a clown and others dressed in green travel along the streets of Naples.
From St. Ann’s Catholic Church in Naples, they traveled north on Third Street South, then east on Fifth Avenue South and south on Eighth Street South to Crayton Cove.
In the front of the parade was Naples Mayor Bill Barnett, who said he enjoys the great atmosphere and attends regularly.
“It’s a great day to forget about the economy and all the controversy that you read about in the newspaper,” said Barnett, who wore an oversized green hat. “Today is a day that you are smiling whether you are Irish or not.”

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