Editor's Note: This article is part of Route Bay City's Voices of Youth series, which features content created by Bay County youth in partnership with the Bay-Arenac ISD Career Center.
The Bay City St. Patrick’s Day celebration has grown from a parade of 40 participants 70 years ago into a multi-day celebration attracting thousands of people from around the state.
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here to read Route Bay City’s story detailing this year’s events. Keep reading to learn more about the history of the parade and races.
The St. Patrick’s Day Parade began in 1955
The first St. Patrick’s Day Parade was held in Bay City March 17, 1955. That means this year will be the 70
th anniversary of this special event.
Four Irishmen – Jim Gates, Jim Noonan, Jim Donahue, and John O’Shea – founded the parade. Since they started planning late in 1954, the first parade wasn’t held until 1955.
The parade started at 5:30 p.m. on a Thursday. The parade started on Center Avenue and ended at City Hall on Washington Avenue.
There were 10,000 attendees of the first parade and 40 participants. Some of those participants included the Bay City Central High School Marching Band, Auburn Accordion Marching Band, local Boy Scouts, and AAA Furniture.
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Photo courtesy of the Bay Area Runners Club/St. Patrick's Day RacesThe first St. Patrick's Day Race was held in 1975, nearly 20 years after the first parade. The St. Patrick’s Day Race began in 1975
The first race was held in 1975, nearly 20 years after the first parade. Bay City Central High School teacher, track, and cross-country coach Al Kayner started the race.
The first race was five miles long, starting at Veterans Memorial Park and ending at Wenonah Park. About 65 runners participated in the event that first year. In 1977, Kayner founded the Bay Area Runners Club, which still holds the race 52 years later celebrating the legacy of Al Kayner.
Today, the St. Patrick’s Day Parade attracts thousands of spectators
Today, the St. Patrick’s Day Parade Association organizes the parade.
The association still holds the traditions that started 70 years ago in 1955. These traditions include naming a Parade Marshal, Parade Queen, and her court.
This year’s parade marshal is Liberty Starkweather Smith and the Parade Association president is Meghan Jurek. Jurek is serving her second year as the association president.
The 2025 St. Patrick’s Day queen is Katelyn Morris. In 1955, the first St. Patrick’s Day queen was Sheila Tennant. She was chosen to be queen out of 34 nominees for this historic event.
The St. Patrick’s Day Races bring 7,000 runners to town
From the first race with only 65 runners to today when the race attracts 7,000 participates, the race is more than a fun event that brings our community together. It also is huge fundraiser the Bay Area Runners Club. Those donations that are collected go back to our community.
The impact of the parade and races goes beyond a day of fun and fitness
Seventy years later the legacy of the St. Patrick’s Day Parade continues. What began as an idea from four Irishmen is today one of the biggest events in our community.
The parade, races, and surrounding events bring together our community to celebrate this holiday and the history behind it. It also helps raise money for great causes.
The primary beneficiary, besides our community, is the Children’s Grief Center of the Great Lakes Bay Region. Since 2012, the Bay Area Runners Club has donated over $253,000 to local charities, non-profits, and schools.
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