Exciting New Entries, Longtime Crowd Favorites Among Final Entries in Hot Springs’ Internationally Famous First Ever 20th Annual World’s Shortest St. Patrick’s Day Parade
HOT SPRINGS NATIONAL PARK, Arkansas — The lineup is set for the landmark First Ever 20th Annual World’s Shortest St. Patrick’s Day Parade, and the 98-foot celebration will feature an exciting mix of brand new entries and longtime crowd favorites among the floats, bands, dancers, strutters, leprechauns and assorted wacky participants on March 17.
The entry deadline for parade participants was Wednesday (March 1), and the lineup was filled to the max days ahead of that, said Alexis Hampo, special events manager for Visit Hot Springs, which created the parade in 2003 and which has coordinated it ever since.
"We have some really exciting entries this year,” Hampo said. “Some have been participating in the parade for years and others are brand new to Bridge Street. I am thrilled to see all the creative, green and St. Pat's-themed floats and groups coming to celebrate the 20th year of our tiny and wonderful parade."
New this year will be the Rusty Nail Line Dancers, a square dance group.
“We are very excited to be participating in the parade,” said Tonja Bolding. “Five of the dancers were in the parade approximately 10 years ago with our original teacher, who unfortunately is recovering from multiple strokes. We want to dedicate this experience and our performance to our beloved Jerri Hendrix Priddy. I now teach this class out of love, respect and admiration for her and everything she taught me.”
A crowd favorite, the Spa City St. Paddy Wagon, is back for another go-round on The World’s Shortest Street in Everyday Use — 98-foot Bridge Street in the heart of downtown Hot Springs. The Paddy Wagon is famous for throwing hamburgers to the crowd.
Dennis P. Berry said, “It has been a privilege to be a part of the annual World's Shortest St. Patrick’s Day Parade. The families on our float have gotten to see our children enjoy the tremendous thrill of tossing thousands of items and hundreds of hamburgers over the past five years to our wonderful community of Hot Springs.
“We have gotten more thrills and great memories than we ever imagined, and we can’t wait to unveil the new Spa City St. Paddy Wagon.”
Also returning are the perennial parade favorite International Order of the Irish Elvi (Hot Springs Chapter), a group of Irish-themed Elvis impersonators who annually send the 30,000-plus spectators into fits of laughter with their antics. The Elvi theme this year is “A Smorgasbord of Elvi.”
Also new this year will be a group called The Cousin O’Eddies, a tribute to the Randy Quaid character — Cousin Eddie — in the classic movie “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.”
Previously announced entrants will be the Central High School Kiltie Drum and Bugle Corps from Springfield, Mo. They are an all-female kilt-wearing marching group that is the oldest such outfit in the nation.
“We also want to give a shout-out to the Pocket Theater’s entry — Green Eggs and Hamlet,” Hampo said.
“Of course, we can’t forget our parade grand marshal, country music superstar Justin Moore and our official starter, Chris McDonald, who created the iconic role of Shooter McGavin in the classic movie ‘Happy Gilmore.’
“And, FLW fishing legend Charlie Evans and characters from the ‘PAW Patrol’ show, the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders and the world’s biggest Idaho potato on wheels will all be back.”
The final lineup for the 20th Annual Parade includes:
- Hot Springs Fire Department — Ladder Truck
- Official Parade Starter — Christopher McDonald
- Alliance Rubber Company — Putting for the Green
- Paddy Wagon — Spa City St. Paddy Wagon
- Mountain Pine Pride of the Red Devils Marching Band
- Chamber of Commerce — Shake your Shamrocks!
- Paw Patrol characters and Charlie Evans
- Garvan Gardens — Dinky O' Smartie, World's Shortest Car
- Rusty Nail Line Dancer — Lucky to be a Line Dancer
- LakePointe City Church — Lucky Charms
- St. Patrick’s Parade Royalty King Homer Wright and Queen Minnie Lenox
- The Cousin O'Eddies — Tribute to Cousin Eddie from National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation
- Miss Arkansas
- Theta Pi — Get to the Green in Small Town USA
- The Grand Marshal — Justin Moore
- The Traveling Sisters — Homegrown Country
- Kangoo Club Hot Springs
- Pocket Theater — Green Eggs and Hamlet
- Oaklawn Jockey Club — Oaklawn St. Patrick's Day Float
- Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders
- Hurst Concrete — The Lucky Leprechauns
- Hillestad — May the Road Rise Up to Meet You
- Betty's Big Country Dance Hall — Betty's Big Pot of Gold Dancers
- Gates Family Entertainment — Laugardagr for the Crew
- Springfield, Missouri, Central High School Kiltie Drum and Bugle Corps
- Boogies Bar & Grill — The Late Night Leprechauns
- Riser Ford — World Championship Bathtub Racing Champions
- International Order of Irish Elvi (Hot Springs Chapter) — A Smorgasbord of Elvi
- Lakeside Walk-In Clinic/Aliia's Vanity Room — KISS ME...it's Filler
- Splash Wine Bar & Plenty Mystic Unveiled Dance Troup — Stay Calm Irish Dancers Gone Wild
- World’s Biggest Idaho Potato on Wheels
There will be a free public concert on the Bridge Street Stage immediately after the parade by the well-known cover band, The Molly Ringwalds.
Saturday afternoon on the day after the parade, March 18, there will be the Second Ever Zero-K World’s Shortest St. Patrick’s Footrace, starting on Bridge Street and going 299 feet to O’Kelley’s World’s Biggest Inflatable Irish Pub across the street. Saturday evening there will be a free public concert on the Bridge Street Stage by the iconic ‘70s band Village People.
For more information call Steve Arrison at 501-321-2027.