Papa Rocco's Pizza in Gulf Shores continued its famous St. Patrick's Day tradition with the 41st-annual Pub Crawl on March 17, stopping by several establishments along the beach and the main strip wielding bagpipes and donning kilts.

This year marked the first pub crawl without iconic restaurateur Bill "Papa" McGinnes, who passed away in 2025. Under McGinnes's leadership after becoming grand marshal in 1989, the pub crawl turn into a community event in the Gulf Shores area, drawing hundreds of participants every year and stopping by local establishments such as the Hangout, De Soto's Seafood Kitchen and the Steamer Baked Oyster Bar.

Kenneth Jones, McGinnes's handpicked successor to run the establishment, said Papa Rocco's was packed all day until midnight and that he is glad to keep the Papa's legacy alive this St. Patrick's Day.

"I was walking behind the bagpipers, and my first thought was you kind of get a cold chill and it comes over you and you know Bill's smiling down," Jones said. "Happy that we're keeping his legacy going."