Five years since its founding, Adamsville’s World’s Shortest St. Paddy’s Day parade has evolved into a well-run, mammoth machine well-oiled by kegs of Guinness and complete with non-profit status, dozens and dozens of volunteers, national recognition and even a jumbotron TV to serve a crowd often larger than the procession itself.

All of that is absolutely no thanks to Chuck Kinnane, who helped found the parade with family and friends in 2022.

It may sound like a dig but it’s true, he told the crowd at an afterparty and concert held after the 89-foot procession concluded late Sunday afternoon:

“It was way more organized this year, because I was not involved,” Kinnane joked, standing on stage under a giant white tent as Sharks Come Cruisin’, one of two bands scheduled to play, tuned their banjos and guitars.

This year, the parade got a big boost from members of LC350, who earned plenty of experience last summer scheduling the many town events surrounding and celebrating Little Compton’s 350th anniversary. With time running short to get it all organized, founders turned to LC350 helpers including Melissa McCarthy, Skip Roussell and others, including Humphrey’s Building Supply and others who worked with the parade board to organize merchandise, food, drink, infrastructure and 100 other details — “They really came through,” Kinnane said.

Much of that behind the scenes work was hardly noticed Sunday. Instead, Marjory O’Toole from the Little Compton Historical Society emerged just after 3 p.m. and with a bit of help, unrolled a massive measuring tape and officially counted the length — 89 feet, still nine feet shorter than the so-called shortest St. Patrick’s Day parade in Hot Springs, Ark., which inspired the Adamsville creation in 2022.

Following O’Toole came the marchers: Matt Light, the New England Patriots’ legend, a giant smoke-belching choo choo train made of hundreds of balloons, several bands including perennial favorites the Spindle Rock River Rats, many local organizations, an impromptu putting challenge down Main Street, and St. Patrick himself to close it out. Crowds stood as much as five and six deep along the entire route and those who were too far away from the action had the jumbotron to help.

When it was over, guests poured into a tent behind the Kinnane compound to listen to Sharks Come Cruisin' and the Rice Sisters/Appalachian Skyline, who traveled from North Carolina to perform.

As they broke into their first song, someone in the back sang his own lyrics to the sister’s rendition of the old southern chestnut “Rocky Top”:

“Adamsville, you will always be home sweet home to me.”