Correspondent photos / Sean Barron The Boardman High School Spartans Marching Band braves the rain and gusty winds as it marches along Market Street during Sunday’s 47th annual Mahoning Valley St. Patrick’s Day parade in Boardman.

BOARDMAN — In a sense, Liam Twohig was a colorful contradiction because he wore nearly all green, yet his favorite aspect of a popular event he attended had not a speck of green.

“The potatoes,” Liam, 11, of Lordstown, said when asked what he liked most about being at Sunday afternoon’s 47th annual Mahoning Valley St. Patrick’s Day parade.

“I’m all green all the time,” Liam, a Western Reserve Elementary School fifth-grader, added.

He was referring specifically to having been handed a cooked potato-on-a-stick, which was one of the treats — along with the ubiquitous candy tossed at revelers — available to those who lined both sides of Market Street to watch the festivities and pageantry.

Bearing green witness to both of those, however, took a bit of courage and added resolve, because spectators and those in the parade had to contend with periodic heavy rain showers and winds that gusted up to 50 mph, both of which were part of the severe weather that moved through much of the area.

As of 4:30 p.m. Sunday, Mahoning County reported 1,781 power outages, according to FirstEnergy Corp, though the parade started on schedule.

Liam said he recalled having been to the popular parade at least three times, though his attendance goes back farther, his father, Shawn Twohig, said. Father and son also enjoy the more typical elements the parade offers each year.

“I just enjoy seeing all of the people,” the elder Twohig said.

An estimated 100 units were in this year’s event, themed “All Hail St. Patrick,” organizers said. They included the Boardman High School Spartan Marching Band, the Boardman Police and Fire departments, the Mahoning County Sheriff’s Office, the Purple Cat, Masco Inc., the Cardinal Mooney High School cheerleaders, Save the Mill Creek Park Deer, the YMCA of Youngstown, Jeffrey Chrystal Catering, Alta Care Group, the Tri State Detachment 494 Marine Corps League Color Guard, Window World, Pet Lodge USA of Boardman, the DeBartolo Corp. and Gateways to Better Living Inc.

You could say that the primary difficult-to-miss theme of Ansley Touville’s hair was its solid brown, complemented with light-green-and-blonde braids.

Ansley, 9, of New Middletown, said she most enjoys watching the marching bands, something her mother, Carla Touville, also favors.

“We like to see all the different organizations and kids in the bands,” Carla Touville said, adding, “It’s part of tradition.”

Tradition certainly fits when it comes to her parents’ association with the longtime parade, because they have been coming to it for about 20 years, Ansley’s father, Curt Touville, added.

It could be said that a theme for Patty Morris’ attendance would be “unique,” as outlined on part of what she wore that read, “This is my only green shirt.”

“I try to come every year, depending on the weather. I figured I would brave the rain,” Morris, of East Palestine, said, adding, “I love the bagpipes and different groups.”

Accompanying Morris nearby was her daughter, Ashley Kumrow of Negley, which meant an extra duty for Morris, something she certainly didn’t seem to mind. Specifically, Morris was tasked with collecting and bagging candy that had been tossed from parade participants, then later distributing it to her two grandchildren, Otto, 2, and Emery, 3, both of whom are Kumrow’s children.

This year’s grand marshal was the Ursuline Sisters of Youngstown, with Sister Mary McCormick serving as general superior. The Lord Mayor of Kilkenny was Quench Bar & Grill in Boardman.

The 2025 Ockerman Award recipient was Michael D. McCarthy, a 1986 Ursuline High School graduate who has been part of Special Olympics and is past master for the Shriners Hospitals for Children via the Youngstown Shrine Club. He also served as financial secretary for the local Ancient Order of Hibernians, the oldest and largest Irish-Catholic fraternal organization.

Also, the Magic Tree Pub & Eatery on South Avenue hosted an after-party that included performances from That 80s Band, Fast Freddie, the Burke School of Irish Dance and No Funk, No Justice.