Lively crowd watches creek go green in Ashland on soggy St. Patrick's Day

ASHLAND - For the third straight year on Friday, the city turned Center Run Creek green in celebration of St. Patrick's Day.

Roughly 200 people turned out to witness the noontime event, despite the damp and chilly weather. Many were dressed in green and wore festive hats in honor of the day. Hats and balloons were handed out by the city.

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Mayor Matt Miller told those in attendance that the city uses tracer dye in the water to create the magical effect. He said the dye is approved by the EPA and is environmentally friendly.

Miller and his wife Melanie were assisted during the ceremony by four area children who helped to place the dye in Town Creek.

The mayor also mentioned he has been asked by many how the city keeps the creek green all day and he told the crowd that after the ceremony, "leprechauns" come out every 18 minutes and add more dye to the water to make sure the fun continues.

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Despite temperatures in the upper-30s, the walking parade kicked off at 5 p.m. from Corner Park and made its way down Main Street to Foundation Plaza.

While a crowd gathered in Foundation Plaza, Ashland University's STUNT team performed several formations before Miller conducted the Shiniest Shamrock contest.

Spencer Heimberger and Olivia Conley won the contest. Other contestants included Tom Oakley, Emily Pauley, Blake Swanson, Grayson and Serenity Warrick.

This article originally appeared on Ashland Times Gazette: St. Patrick's Day 2023 in Ashland: Lively crowd watches creek go green