By Kathy Feist
As luck would have it, Martin City will celebrate its St. Patrick’s Day Parade in 60 degree weather this year. That’s good news for parade followers ready to get the show on the road.
It’s been two years without a St. Patrick’s Day Parade in the Kansas City area, thanks to the pandemic which put plans on hold in March 2020 and again in 2021. This year, with a little luck and vaccinations, they are back.
Martin City will hold its annual parade with the theme “Lucky in All the Local Places” on Sunday, March 13, starting at 2 pm. KMBC news reporter Michael Mahoney will lead the parade as Grand Marshall. Rival news reporter John Holt with Fox4 will emcee the event from the judges box.
According to Vicki Wolgast, Martin City Community Improvement District manager, there will be around 35 entries in the Martin City parade, including floats, decorated vehicles, bands, dancers, horses and marching groups. Three entries will receive a cash prize for best overall parade entry.
The parade runs along 135th Street, starting at Washington St and ending at Holmes Rd.
Restaurants in the small town will be offering Irish fare. RC’s will have its traditional corned beef and cabbage, while Martin City Pizza will be debuting a Rueben pizza. A real Rueben sandwich as well as fish and chips can be had next door at Coast to Coast. Martin City Coffee is featuring Irish Cream latte and a Mint Macha.
The parade is sponsored by the Martin City CID. For more information, contact Wolgast at 816-308-1023 or email manager@martincity.org.
Brookside parade rescheduled
The Brookside St. Patrick’s Day Parade, originally scheduled for Saturday, March 12, has been moved to March 19 at 1 pm due to inclement weather. “Because of the cold, we’ve lost bagpipers, bands, cars, dogs, and many other crowd favorites. Postponing to the 19th means more people can participate and we can have so much more fun,” says parade organizer Jennifer Gamble. In the past there have been as many as100 entries.
The parade starts at 65th and Wornall and winds around 63rd and Main to Meyer Blvd and finally Brookside Blvd. The parade is hosted by the Brookside Business Association and Community Improvement District
Kansas City Parade
Finally, the Kansas City Parade is on March 17, at 11 am, starting at Linwood and Broadway and ending at Westport.
While that parade is definitely a good one, we are convinced you will be “Lucky in all the more local places.”