Hundreds gather for the World's Shortest St. Patrick's Day Parade in downtown Bemidji

031922.N.BP.PARADE - LEAD.jpg — Brigid's Pub owner Travis Glass, center, and other participants make their way down Beltrami Avenue during the World鈥檚 Shortest St. Patrick鈥檚 Day Parade on Thursday, March 17, 2022, in downtown Bemidji.

By Pioneer Staff Report

March 18, 2022 at 12:56 PM

BEMIDJI 鈥� Downtown Bemidji was a sea of green on Thursday evening as hundreds gathered for the triumphant return of the World's Shortest St. Patrick's Day Parade.

031922.N.BP.PARADE - 2.jpg — Attendees line up along the sidewalk outside of Brigid鈥檚 Pub ahead of the World鈥檚 Shortest St. Patrick鈥檚 Day Parade on Thursday, March 17, 2022, in downtown Bemidji.

After a two-year hiatus due to the coronavirus pandemic, the 78-pace parade began on the north end of Beltrami Avenue at Brigid's Pub. Participants and their pets 鈥� decked out in all shades of green, shamrocks and even a kilt 鈥� made their way down the street, coming to a stop at Keg N' Cork, the first Irish pub on the Mississippi.

031922.N.BP.PARADE - 10.jpg — Event emcee Mitch Rautio asks participants to line up on Beltrami Avenue ahead of the World鈥檚 Shortest St. Patrick鈥檚 Day Parade on Thursday, March 17, 2022, in downtown Bemidji.

031922.N.BP.PARADE - 5.jpg — Participants make their way down Beltrami Avenue during the World鈥檚 Shortest St. Patrick鈥檚 Day Parade on Thursday, March 17, 2022, in downtown Bemidji.

At the conclusion of the parade, attendees were invited to join in a childish rendition of the "Chicken Dance" followed by the "The Hokey Pokey."

031922.N.BP.PARADE - 7.jpg — Attendees participate in the 鈥淐hicken Dance鈥� following the World鈥檚 Shortest St. Patrick鈥檚 Day Parade on Thursday, March 17, 2022, in downtown Bemidji.

031922.N.BP.PARADE - 4.jpg — Attendees participate in the 鈥淐hicken Dance鈥� following the World鈥檚 Shortest St. Patrick鈥檚 Day Parade on Thursday, March 17, 2022, in downtown Bemidji.

031922.N.BP.PARADE - 3.jpg — Attendees try their hand at 鈥渟wooshing鈥� following the World鈥檚 Shortest St. Patrick鈥檚 Day Parade on Thursday, March 17, 2022, in downtown Bemidji.

To round out the evening's events, two groups braved the traditional "swooshing" race across the street.

Long-time parade volunteers Paul Goodwin and Mitch Rautio emceed the event, which they guessed is now in its 15th or 16th year.

When questioned on how they know if this is indeed the shortest St. Patrick's Day parade, the pair looked at each other and let out a hearty laugh.

"We like to use paces to decide this is the shortest parade instead of using feet," Rautio said with a laugh. "We don't like to get too official around here, the Irish like to share."