Steve Parnell liked Peoria's St. Patrick's Day Parade so much last year, he drove up from St. Louis again Wednesday with his 2 year old toddler Brayden to enjoy it again. The annual parade wound through downtown late Wednesday morning to a crowd that rivaled the numbers the Christmas Parade draws. For, Parnell, this parade is more special to him than the one in St. Louis. He says his son is just old enough to appreciate the parade's entries, so sharing the education with him is memorable. In addition to the fire trucks, bands and politicians, the Peoria St. Pat's parade included large family clans of Irish descent. The parade lasted about 90 minutes. The event finished at the Holiday Inn City Centre Center, which annually serves as the official post parade food and entertainment venue.
