Thousands of alumni have fond memories of St. Patrick’s Day at Alfred University. What began in 1933 as a way to promote the ceramic engineering program quickly grew into a university-wide festival and celebration: parades with elaborate floats, unique ceramic mementos, beard growing contests, dances in Davis Gym, and the crowning of queens. Cancelled classes, weeks of planning, cold and snowy weather, evenings spent making tissue paper flowers, and plenty of laughter all contributed to the event enjoyed by students for over fifty years. The University Archives has a collection of memorabilia, photos and film footage to document this time-honored tradition.