Communities host St. Patty’s Day events

Green will be all the rage this weekend as local communities bring on the parades.

Brookside’s 30th annual St. Patrick’s Day Warm-up Parade starts at 2 p.m. Saturday, March 13, at 65th Street and Wornall Road. Martin City’s 23rd annual St. Patrick’s Day events begin at 11:30 a.m. Sunday, March 14, with a 2 p.m. parade start time.

Both family-oriented events attract more than 20,000 spectators and participants annually.

"This is a favorite event I do," Jennifer Leon, Brookside parade coordinator. "Everybody’s out. It’s the start of spring."

Leon, who has organized the event for a decade, said Brookside schools, churches, families, neighbors and merchants enter the parade. And there will be dogs.

"We always have the basset hounds," she said. "It’s gotten to be a tradition."

With the Basset Hound Rescue, Irish Setter Club and Marching O’Weiner Dogs, 300 dogs in Irish hats, vests and collars will promenade.

Leon said spectators can enjoy traditional entries like the drill team with shopping carts, lawn chair choreography, male musicians in cheerleader skirts, deputies on horses. This year’s grand marshal is 97-year-old former Chief’s football band leader Tony DiPardo. Car clubs, roller skaters, Irish families and motorcyclists add to the 120 entries.

"It’s such a feeling of community and neighborhood," Leon said. "We have a lot of Irish families that participate."

Gary Jones, Martin City parade media relations manager, said the mile-long parade along 135th Street from Washington Avenue to Holmes Road will flourish with spectators on both sides of the street, many gathering at RC Restaurant’s parking lot, site of the Irish Idol competition, food and children’s activities.

"It’s a good community project to get involved in," he said.

Jones spent four years helping plan downtown Kansas City’s St. Patrick’s Day parade.

"Irish parades are the most fun parades there are," Jones said. "Everybody’s Irish for a day. It’s a family event."

Mary Nestel, Martin City parade director, said spectators and participants more than tripled four years ago, her first year as director.

Nestel, who served on the downtown parade with Jones, said she used her connections to expand Martin City’s parade. Like Brookside’s parade, Nestel said families and children remain the heart of Martin City’s celebration.

"It’s a safe day and family event," she said.

Robert’s Dairy Bossie the Big Cow, gymnasts, drill teams, miniature horses, antique car clubs, the Fire Department, and Irish and Junior Idols have committed to more than 100 parade entries.

"They’re still coming in daily," Nestel said.

A percentage of proceeds from entries and competitions will fund Ozanam, a local residential treatment center for children. Nestel said last year’s event raised $2,000.

"We try to support the neighborhood," she said. "That’s a great cause."

For details, visit www.brookside.com and www.irishpalooza.com.

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