photo by: Mike Yoder

The Sandbar floats takes up nearly the whole intersection at 11th and Massachusetts streets as it passes through downtown during the annual Lawrence St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Friday, March 17, 2023.

Massachusetts Street turned green on Friday for the annual Lawrence St. Patrick’s Day Parade and the Irish Mile race. This year’s parade was a benefit for the Cantemos Youth Chorale, O’Connell Children’s Shelter and Sunrise Project.

Organizers of the Lawrence St. Patrick’s Day Parade announced the following winners from Friday’s event:

• Grand Prize Traveling Trophy: Sandbar

• Best Dressed Adult Irish Folk: KLWN radio

• Best Dressed Wee Little Irish Folk: St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church

• Commercial Float: First Place: Garrett’s World Wide Enterprises; Second Place Top Tumble; Third Place: Solar Planet, Inc.

• Nonprofit Float: First Place: St. John’s; Second Place: Greenhouse Church; Third Place: Lawrence Arts Center

• Family Float: First Place: The Smith Family; Second Place: Rich Johnson; Third Place: Russ French.

photo by: Mike Yoder

A family watches the start of the Ad Astra Running Irish Mile on Massachusetts Street on Friday, March 17, 2023, before the Lawrence St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

photo by: Mike Yoder

Runners in the Ad Astra Running Irish Mile leave the starting line on Massachusetts Street on Friday March 17, 2023, before the annual Lawrence St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

photo by: Mike Yoder

Brett Meyer, of Hays, won the Ad Astra Running Irish Mile on Friday March 17, 2023, before the annual Lawrence St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Meyer had a time of 4:14.34.

photo by: Mike Yoder

Taylor Gonzalez, of Lawrence, was the top female finisher in the Ad Astra Running Irish Mile on Massachusetts Street on Friday March 17, 2023. Gonzalez finished with a time of 5:22.61.

photo by: Mike Yoder

Isley Frye, 8, competes in the Ad Astra Running Irish Mile on Massachusetts Street on Friday, March 17, 2023. Frye finished the mile with a time of 6:42.95

photo by: Mike Yoder

A parade participant tosses candy during the annual Lawrence St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Friday, March 17, 2023.

photo by: Mike Yoder

Young spectators yell for candy during the Lawrence St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Friday March 17, 2023, in downtown Lawrence.

photo by: Mike Yoder

Participants on the Lawrence Lucky All-Stars Cheer float ride in the Lawrence St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Friday March 17, 2023, in downtown Lawrence.

photo by: Mike Yoder

A fire truck passes through downtown during the annual Lawrence St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Friday, March 17, 2023.

photo by: Mike Yoder

A Lawrence Parks and Recreation staffer gives a free tree to a paradegoer during the annual Lawrence St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Friday, March 17, 2023.

photo by: Mike Yoder

An antique car passes by a crowd during the annual Lawrence St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Friday, March 17, 2023.

photo by: Mike Yoder

A parade participant wears an inflatable suit during the annual Lawrence St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Friday, March 17, 2023.

photo by: Mike Yoder

Dance students at the Lawrence Arts Center perform in the street during the annual Lawrence St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Friday, March 17, 2023.

photo by: Mike Yoder

The United Way float rolls past South Park during the annual Lawrence St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Friday, March 17, 2023.