Bradenton's Madison Hokanson, 5, and Jaxson Hokanson, 2, came dressed for the occasion to the Irish Celtic Festival at Greenbrook Adventure Park on March 7.
Photo by Madison Bierl
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The hum of bagpipes filled the air as various musicians from the Lion Rampant Pipes and Drums band walked toward the stage. Within the parade line were dogs, big and small, dressed in green and ready to impress.
The Lucky Dog Parade, one of the favorite features each year at the Lakewood Ranch Community Activities' Irish Celtic Festival, had just begun. Both the dogs and the bagpipes, as always, were hits.
The event was held March 7 at the Greenbrook Adventure Park.
"It was beautiful day in Lakewood Ranch for everyone," said Leslie Jones, a bagpiper in the Lion Rampant Pipes and Drums band. "The audience appreciated our music and many stopped by to visit and thank the musicians."
The Cox family — which includes Niki, Kevin and their two sons, Dylan and Jayce, — have attended for the last four years.
"We look forward to it every year," Niki Cox said. "It’s a fun way to celebrate our heritage with our children. We love all the fun outfits, music, dancing and the cutest dog parade."
Greyhawk Landing's Cindy Jacuk attended the event to be part of the Lucky Dog Parade with her 2-year-old soft-coated Wheaten terrier, Oliver. She came with the Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier Club of Greater Tampa Bay.
"We were all very excited to walk our Wheatens in the parade," Jacuk said. "There is nothing not to love about the event. The music, dancing, bagpipes, and parade were all great."
"Mister Lucky Charm" aka Bentley, dresses in style for the Lucky Dog Parade at the Irish Celtic Festival. He and his owner, Gail Yeager from St. Petersburg, won best overall costume.
Photo by Madison Bierl
Bill Mullen, originally from Dundee, Scotland, performs throughout the day at the Irish Celtic Festival on March 7 in Lakewood Ranch.
Photo by Madison Bierl
Fish Hawk's Madison Seelye, 13, Haley Seelye, 15, and Ashlynn Seelye, 17, perform as a sister trio with Drake Irish Dance.
Photo by Madison Bierl
Leslie Jones, Brigid Flannery and Michael Urquhart are members of the Sarasota based band Lion Rampant Pipes and Drums. They led the Lucky Dog Parade in song.
Oliver, a 2-year-old soft-coated Wheaten terrier, poses with his twin made out of flowers at the Irish Celtic Festival.
Photo by Madison Bierl
Bradenton's Dan O’Connor made his puppet named Fergus years ago and has attended the Irish Celtic Festival the last several years.
Photo by Madison Bierl
Lakewood Ranch's 2-year-old Ricki Dichillo gets her green on for the Irish Celtic Festival March 7 in Lakewood Ranch.
Photo by Madison Bierl
Akiko Campbell of Akiko Graphics paints the face of Lakewood Ranch’s Lynnette Beecher at the Irish Celtic Festival.
Photo by Madison Bierl
Dunedin's Alyssia Stimus and Arielle Cohen of Finnegan Academy of Irish Dance perform at the Irish Celtic Festival.
Photo by Madison Bierl
Bradenton's Madison Hokanson, 5, jumps for joy at the Irish Celtic Festival.
Photo by Madison Bierl
Ellenton’s Hunter Jaworski, 9, says he is scared of heights and was nervous to climb on the climbing wall. He did it to make his friends proud.
Photo by Madison Bierl
Lakewood Ranch's Jayce Cox, 4, chases bubbles at the Irish Celtic Festival because he "just wants to pop 'em!"
Photo by Madison Bierl
Lakewood Ranch's Jayce Cox, 4, Niki Cox, Kevin Cox and Dylan Cox, 7, have attended the Irish Celtic Festival for the past four years.
Photo by Madison Bierl
Lakewood Ranch's Elizabeth Mosca shows off her son, 5-year-old Luca Mosca, with a selfie at the Irish Celtic Festival.
Photo by Madison Bierl
Greenbrook's Chris McElori participates in the Lucky Dog Parade with his 9-year-old lab, Crosby, who jumped for joy in front of the crowd. They won the "Most Popular" award.
Photo by Madison Bierl
Country Creek's Kevin and Maria Smith, along with Anna Maria Island's Johanna and Damir Glavan, attend the Irish Celtic Festival on March 7.
Madison Bierl is the education and community reporter for the East County Observer. She grew up in Iowa and studied at the Greenlee School of Journalism and Communication at Iowa State University.
