The World’s Shortest St. Patrick’s Day Parade - Lake Hamilton

The World’s Shortest St. Patrick’s Day Parade

The World’s Shortest St. Patrick’s Day Parade

Once again St. Patrick’s Day is upon us and with it is the annual World’s First Shortest St. Patrick’s Day parade. People from all over the country are once again flocking to the 98 foot Bridge Street, the shortest street in the world in everyday use, where the parade is held every year.

This year marks the 15th year of the parade since it was founded in 2003 and will mark many firsts for the event. The world’s biggest inflatable Irish pub debuts on the same day of the parade and will be serving plenty of drinks for those enjoying the festivities.

After years of invitations, the Budweiser Clydesdales will finally be making an appearance at the parade where they are sure to leave the spectators in awe of their majesty.

The Mountain Pine High School Red Devil Marching Band will also be making an appearance, which will mark the first time ever that a genuine marching band will be participating in the Shortest St. Patrick’s Day Parade. They will have the honor of being the pioneering band, which will now be part of the annual tradition.

Also making an appearance at the parade will be Youtube star Kati Sunshine and the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders. This year’s royalty will be Anthony Valinoty, the brains behind the nationally famous Deluca’s Pizzeria Napoletana and Rose Schweikhart, who developed and runs equally famous Superior Bathhouse Brewery, who will both be serving as Parade King and Parade Queen, respectively.

Over the years, the World’s Shortest St. Patrick’s Day Parade has had the honor of having celebrities and special guests to make an appearance and be a part of this annual festivity with the likes of as Dick Kelley, Bob Wheeler, George Wendt, Pauley Shore, Mario Lopez, Mike Rowe, John Ratzenberger, Bo Derek, John Corbett, Tim Matheson, Jim Belushi, Mark Martin, Kevin Bacon, and Alfonso Ribeiro serving as Grand Marshals. This year, music legend Joey Fatone will be serving as the annual parade’s Grand Marshal together with Napoleon Dynamite himself Jon Heder will be serving as the parade starter.

Also a first for this year’s parade festivities will be a free concert held the night before the parade. Grand Funk Railroad will be performing in the free concert, which is a great way to kick-off the festivities.

Ending the festivities with style will be the Flamboyant musical star Morris Day and his band The Time. They will be providing entertainment on their free post-parade concert immediately following the First Ever 15th Annual World’s Shortest St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

The parade annually attracts crowds of upwards of 30,000 people to watch and take part in the St. Patricks’ Day festivities which include a collection of Irish Elvis impersonators, green Irish wolfhounds, marching units such as Paddy O’Furniture, and Irish belly dancers. All will be taking place at the historic 98-foot Bridge Street in the heart of downtown Hot Springs.