HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – A Hot Springs tradition returns after a pandemic delay with two days of star-studded fun.
The organizers of the “First Ever 19and The World’s Shortest Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade” posted a full list of upcoming events Thursday and Friday.
The sub-100ft event will feature vendors, an inflatable pub and two nights of concerts.
There will also be a number of famous faces, including actors Cheech Marin and Danny Trejo, who serve as the parade grand marshal and official parade starter, as well as the head football coach of the Arkansas Razorbacks. Sam Pittman and his wife Jamie who are the king and queen of the event.
This week’s event marks the parade’s return following the COVID-19 pandemic. The 2020 parade was first pushed back from March to October before being canceled. Then, in November 2020, the organizers announced that they would also cancel the 2021 event.
Visit Hot Springs CEO Steve Arrison said he and the rest of the team hosting the event are ready for his return.
“The parade is on,” Arrison said. “Cheech Marin and Danny (Machete) Trejo have been packing since 2020 to serve as celebrity grand marshals and official parade starters, and they said they can’t wait to get to Hot Springs and help get the parade going again. . in all its massive glory.
Events for Thursday March 17
3 p.m. – Bridge Street LIVE! Entertainment District opens and vendors can start operating
3 p.m. – O’Kelley’s opens the world’s largest inflatable pop-up Irish pub
4:00 p.m. – Romancing The Stone, Arkansas Blarney Stone Kissing Contest begins at the Arkansas Blarney Stone in front of the Convention Center on Convention Boulevard
5:00 p.m. – Parade festivities begin on Bridge Street with the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders
6:25 p.m. – Official measurement of the 98-foot parade route begins
6.30pm – The parade begins on Bridge Street with Grand Marshal Cheech Marin, official parade starter Danny Trejo and King and Queen, Sam and Jamie Pittman
8:00 PM – Free post-parade concert featuring Foghat on the Bridge Street Stage
11:00 p.m. – Entertainment District closes
Events for Friday March 18
5 p.m. – Bridge Street LIVE! entertainment district opens
8pm – Free public concert by Sugar Ray on the Bridge Street stage
11:00 p.m. – Entertainment District closes
To learn more about the event, including a list of rules for participants, go to ShortestStPats.com.
