Thursday marked the 38th annual St. Patrick’s Day parade in Oak Harbor hosted by the Irish Wildlife Society. The small procession enthusiastically wound its way down Jensen Street and Pioneer Way carefully avoiding construction.

A few hundred people came out to watch the show. Horns were honked, little kids waved and plenty of green top hats and oversized sunglasses were seen bopping throughout downtown.

Sticking to tradition, the parade ended at the windmill in Windjammer Park where Navy Chaplain Phil King gave an invocation, City Councilman Rick Almberg gave a proclamation and grand marshmal Mick Donahue expressed his gratitude at being included in the festivities.

“This is the best day of the year if you’re Irish,” Donahue said, “and even if you’re not Irish.”

All three men were invited to kiss Oak Harbor’s Blarney Stone after being assured that it had just been polished with Irish beer.

“I’d like to kiss the Blarney Stone with my wife who’s kissed the real Blarney Stone in Ireland,” Almberg said. “She’ll bring real Irish luck too.”