Big Crowds For St. Pat's in Crosslake

A record-breaking crowd turned out for the 38th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade & Celebration in Crosslake.

Crosslake Public Works Director Ted Strand estimated between 15,000 and 20,000 people were in town for the festivities. He said every road leading into Crosslake had vehicles parked on both sides extending for a half-mile past the parade route.

There were more than 100 parade entries, which included multiple vehicles, floats and walkers, for the two-hour event in the record-high temperatures.

Crosslake Fire Chief Chip Lohmiller reported serving more than 450 people, a record number, at the pancake breakfast. He noted the Crosslake First Responders were stationed along the parade route and reported no incidents.

The 2012 Best in Float honors were awarded to Moonlite Bay, first place; Emily Greens, second place; Lake Country Crafts & Cones, third place, and Girl Scouts Troop 650, first place, youth division. The first place traveling trophy will be presented to Moonlite Bay on March 24 at the St. Patrick’s Day Raffle Drawing Party at Maucieri’s, 34650 County Road 3, Crosslake.

This year’s parade float judges were the former Ms. Blarneys: 2008 Colleen Murray, 2009 Dana Buranen, and 2011 Anna Anderson.

The Pot O’ Gold Treasure was found about 9:40 a.m. Saturday, about 40 minutes after the last clue was posted, by Nathan, Jennifer, Ella, and Lauren Krause, and David and Judy Jackson, of Cottage Grove. They earned $100 in Chamber Bucks for finding the treasure on the Sunrise Island Bridge of Echo Bay.