MANSFIELD -- As a very green-hued parade marched through downtown Mansfield Saturday, 4-year-old Amanda Wooten and her aunt watched through the large window and in the relative quiet of the Frosted Pink Cake Company.
"I liked the clowns in the little cars," Amanda said, recharging with a grape soda, a pastry and, in keeping with theme of the day, a good-sized pickle."It's sour."The child was among thousands who turned out for the second annual St. Paddy's Pickle Parade and Palooza, billed as both a family-friendly St. Patrick's Day party and an homage to the homegrown pickle producer, Best Maid Products, which was founded in Mansfield 87 years ago and ships out 50 million pickles a year."I think it's setting a tone for Mansfield as a fun-loving place," said Ann Smith, one of the 17 Pickle Queens who organized the event. "It's weird enough," Smith added, "but not Austin's weird."Donning red wigs and regal garb, they rode in the parade and threw beaded necklaces into the crowds.The turnout appeared to be much larger than last year's estimated attendance of around 5,000.Saturday's parade had 76 entries, up from 54 entries last year, and lasted more than an hour, winding through downtown streets.This year's event had several new features, including vendors -- 47 of them. They offered food, games and publicity for several organizations, churches and businesses. Also new was a children's area, with bounce houses and games.Added to what originally was a one-day event on Saturday were a Friday evening kickoff with a band at Steven's Garden and Grill and a free movie at the Farr Best Theater, both downtown.Another change: Instead of indoors, the after-parade party was moved out into Smith Street, where a stage was set up for three bands.The crowd was still thick as they milled about, lining up for hot dogs and funnel cakes, getting faces painted and competing in pickle-eating and pickle juice-drinking contests."It's awesome," said 9-year-old Natalie Garcia. "I liked that they were throwing necklaces and giving out candy and stuff like that."Many Mansfield city officials and community leaders also see the St. Paddy's Pickle Parade, and its success at getting people to the city's historic downtown, as another economic development tool.Have more to add? News tip? Tell us
