MYSTIC -- Banners, floats, music and pride marked the 5th annual Mystic Irish Parade as it wound through the streets alive with the enthusiasm that once was extended as welcome to home-bound seafarers in the days of the great whalers.

Coming from far and near, the bands struck up the familiar parade marches and tunes as thousands of onlookers four and five deep on sidewalks, roadways and even on rooftops, cheered, waved and yelled, clutching hats, banners and balloons. Some even danced in the streets.

Neil Ryan, parade coordinator, called all the parade attendees special guests, but probably the best known and the best loved were the eight Budweiser Clydesdale draft horses from New Hampshire that arrived at Mystic Seaport in three 18-wheelers and were accommodated with Astro Turf enabling them to cross the Mystic River drawbridge grid without incident on the way to Bank Square.

The horses have symbolized the end of prohibition 75 years ago, and a team has since pulled the Budweiser beer wagon in parades and television commercials.

Local and state representatives, including state Attorney General Richard Blumenthal and Congressman Joe Courtney, accompanied by state Rep. Diana Urban were invited to be seated on the reviewing stand in the square where American flags flew alongside the green, white and orange banners of the Emerald Isle.

It was a great day for the Irish with the Celtic Cross Pipe Band, the Irish Setter Club of Central Connecticut, St. Patrick’s Pipe Band & the Connecticut State Police Pipes & Drums among the marchers in the 2½-hour long parade. One unit carried more than 30 brightly colored flags that represented all the counties in Ireland.

The snappy black uniforms and performance of the 7th Regiment Drum & Bugle Corps, comprised of Fitch High School students and some non-student musicians, set feet tapping.

Members of the Mystic Fire Department all sported green gloves, dogs showed off collars of emerald, and green derbies and leis dotted crowds on the sidelines.

The Mystic Irish Colleen Contest, proposed by Marikate Lynch, winner of the Holyoke, Mass., Irish Colleen Contest, made its first formal appearance in the line of march this year with an eye toward naming a winning contestant next year.

Kevin Barry, secretary of the Mystic Irish Foundation said the first contest, to be held next year, will be for women ages 17-21 and will be a search for someone with Irish roots who understands the Irish culture and traditions.

“She’ll be the face of the Mystic Irish Parade, her general appearance will be good, she will have poise and personality and the ability to interact with the public.” Barry said. “The accent on beauty will be minimal.”

Groton, Stonington and Mystic were well represented by police and firefighters among the 15 parade divisions.

The Rhode Island Highlanders, Rhode Island Professional Fire Pipes & Drums, Newport AOH Pipes & Drums and Sun Publications represented the Ocean State, along with the traditional “regulars’ including the Mystic Highland Pipe Band, Nutmeg Volunteer Junior Ancient Fife & Drum Corps, Ancient Order of Hibernians, John P. Holland Division and the Ancient Mariners, who startled the crowd with cannon fire.

Members of the Westerly Fire Department received their share of attention as they drove the 81-year-old pride of the department, the 1927 Ahrens-Fox, through the Mystic streets.

Connecticut royalty was represented in the form of the North Stonington fair queen and court and Mrs. Connecticut.

Boy and Girl scout troops, some leading green-tinted poodles, hiked the route from Greenmanville Avenue to Bank Square along with groups from Waterbury, Manchester, Fairfield and Worcester, Ma.

The biggest display of emotion touched members of the Connecticut Army National Guard with its display of trucks and amphibious craft by an appreciative clapping and cheering audience.

The Shriners, who support 22 hospitals and two burn centers, stole the show, driving six mini-fire trucks, familiar 51-year-old mini-cars and gleaming motorcycles.

Motorists trying to leave town after the parade were stalled for nearly an hour as parents, sleeping youngsters on their shoulders, lugged strollers, carts, chairs and souvenirs as they headed for home.

See Spotted and Sun Images for more photos.