Paddy Hough Parade Rolls Down Main Street As Iconic Event Returns To Vancouver -03/17/23
For immediate release
March 17th, 2023 - Vancouver, WA - After a three-year absence due to COVID, the annual Paddy Hough Parade returned to Main Street in Vancouver’s Uptown Village Neighborhood. The parade began at Hough Elementary School and featured every class, along with local organizations, businesses, classic cars, and bands.
The Paddy Hough Parade is a long-time Vancouver St. Patrick’s Day tradition. This year’s theme was “Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.” Each class selected its own take on the theme which they presented to judges along the parade route. Students marched in a loop from Hough Elementary down Main Street, returning to the school to celebrate with awards and an ice cream social.
In addition to students, the parade featured local businesses, police, firefighters, classic car clubs, school marching bands and more in a colorful and fun procession. One parade participant, Bill Drury, attended Hough Elementary as a 6th grader in 1941! Drury walked in the parade today.
Hough Elementary school’s namesake, Patrick (Paddy) Hough was born in Tipperary, Ireland on March 17th, 1846. Paddy Hough immigrated to Canada in 1870 and then in 1883 to Vancouver, Washington. Soon after his arrival he realized his dream of becoming an American citizen. He served as a teacher and Associate Superintendent in Vancouver. Sixteen years after Paddy Hough’s death, Hough Elementary School was built and named after the beloved educator. Soon thereafter a community sprouted up around the school which also bears his name, Hough Neighborhood.
Broll and SOTs for use in broadcasts and social media:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1WqZzK-TYhsIc-L9Yo5JdfKVOOY6Wbsfv?usp=sharing
Soundbite name/title:
Becca Kempton - Hough Program Assistant
Norwood Brown - Parade Judge
Random kids - no names
Bill Drury - Hough class of ‘41 and parade participant