This year's St. Pats in Five Points saw the same cloudy skies and massive crowds as last year's throwdown.
“The weather isn’t gonna stop the fun," said second-year public relations student Annalee Plyler.
The weather proved to be a rocky start for the festival, but once the skies cleared up, the people showed up. Bursting with energy, the festivities started with a bang.
While St. Pat’s In Five Points has sparked some unruly behavior amongst its festivalgoers in years past, this year most everyone seemed to be having fun, but not going too wild. Which is a plus, considering sometimes festivalgoers can get a little too amped up during the concerts.
There were certainly many familiar aspects to this year’s celebration — perhaps most recognizable, green-tinted beer was back in the hands of nearly every passerby. Scores of other foods were dyed green, as well, like funnel cakes and Jell-O shots.
The usual gaggle of street vendors selling gaudy beaded necklaces lined the streets, but they weren't alone — food trucks from a select few of Columbia's lovable restaurants drew long lines. Even Pawleys Front Porch had a wagon, serving up juicy burgers to the masses.
Notably, the fashion this year was outrageous. Despite the fact the festival is not actually held on St. Patrick’s Day, many were decked out in green from head to toe. Many were not only covered in green, but they also accessorized in green — jewelry, socks, shoes and a token statement hat.
And the hat game this year was on point — huge top hats emblazoned with shamrocks, plaid oversized newsboy caps and headbands with dangling shamrock antennae were only some of the few variations of themed headwear found in Five Points this year.
Oh, and Five Points saw its fair share of kilts this year, per usual.
One of the bigger musical acts, Moon Taxi, put on an energetic set, playing “Southern Trance”— an appropriate song to capture the location of this particular St. Patrick’s Day festival.
J. Roddy Walston and The Business seemed to pleasantly surprise the crowd. The Tennessee-based band blends punk rock with southern sounds, especially in the song “Take It As It Comes," which they performed during their set.
“I wasn’t expecting it to be laid out almost like a music festival, which I am a big fan of," second-year psychology student Sam Erickson said. "Moon Taxi put on a hell of a show.”