Salem celebrates St. Patrick's Day with music, walkabout

Dozens of St. Patrick's Day Walkabout took part on Saturday with traditional bagpipes, drums and green clothes.

The walkabout included traditional Celtic music by Willamette Valley Pipes and Drums. It started at noon and went around the Riverfront Park and continued on the streets of Northeast Court and Liberty before returning from State Street to the park.

Ceilí of the Valley, the organizer, is a local non -profit organization that, according to his website, celebrates the culture and inheritance of the Celtic peoples – primarily from Ireland, Scotland and Wales – through social events. It has been organizing St. Patrick's Day Walkabouts in Salem for 14 years.

During the walkbout it started to rain heavily, which did not prevent the musicians from playing their traditional songs. Many park visitors watched the walkabout of windows, cars and sidewalks.

St. Patrick's Day is a holiday that celebrates the arrival of Christianity in Ireland in AD 5. Officially celebrated on March 17, it reminds of St. Patrick's life, which was responsible for the evangelization of thousands in Ireland and died on this day in 461.

Contact Reporter Alan Cohen: [email protected].

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Alan Cohen is an intern of Salem reporter and student at the Willamette University. Born and grew up in Spain, he has also been involved in student journalism for three years. He is passionate about bringing a voice to underrepresented communities through ethical reporting.