More than two weeks before it is officially St. Patrick's Day on the calendar, the party got started in Stamford, where the city marked the 30th anniversary of its annual parade. "I'm ready for it," laughed Dan Milano from Stamford. "It was a long, cold February, and I think we needed something earlier to get our spirits up." Smiles were on just about every face downtown as Michael Feighan, president of the Irish-American Cultural Society of Stamford, lauded the event. “I’m so excited every year,” he said. "It is the coolest thing," agreed the parade's chairperson Lorraine McLean. "Who doesn't like a parade?” Aside from being the first St. Patrick's Day parade in the area, Stamford's has the biggest celebration in Fairfield County. "This one is definitely the adrenaline pumper. All that camaraderie really gets you going and gets the blood flowing for you," said Aarin Brown, who marched in parade. The 2025 edition was the biggest so far, with organizers saying there were more than 2,000 people marching from over 80 different groups. "Lots of fun, lots of bagpipes, which are my absolutely favorite, and lots of dancing," said Lori Gresham, who lives in Stamford. Adding some extra energy this year was how perfect the weather was - almost the opposite of last year's rainstorm. Gresham called it an “Irish blessing." Local businesses told News 12 they were also thankful for the weather - which kept the party going at nearby bars for hours after the parade was over.