BEVERLY — The South Irish Parade kicked off at noon Sunday under sunny skies and spring-like temperatures.
Parade-goers enjoyed temps in the low to mid-60s and no rain — a far cry from last year, when spectators withstood 13-degree temperatures during the annual celebration of Irish heritage.
This year marked the fourth year in which public drinking was banned from within 800 feet of the parade route.
The parade stretched down Western Avenue, beginning at 103rd Street in Beverly and ended at 115th Street in Morgan Park.
There were reportedly 54 arrests after the 2009 parade. That led organizers to pull the plug on the parade for two years. The event was resurrected in 2012 with a focus on families and a zero-tolerance alcohol policy.
Last year there were no arrests and only one ticket issued, which occurred several hours after the parade and might not have even been related to the event, officials said.
No information about arrests was immediately available, though some people could be seen secretly — and not-so-secretly — drinking. Still, the parade was much saner than the old days, many said.
