The deadline to enter the Snake Saturday Parade is only 8 days away on February 24th. Big cash prizes will be awarded for the best floats in the parade, with $7,000 going to the best charity float! Families and organized groups (such as Scouts, Red Hat clubs, neighborhoods) can win up to $2,000.
Next up will be the Grand Marshal Celebration two weeks from today. Thursday, March 1st at Finnigan’s, 503 E. 18th Avenue in NKC. Social hour begins at 5 p.m. Dining at 6. The Grand Marshal for 2012 will be announced at approximately 8 p.m. Tickets are $25 each and include food, Leapin’ Leprechaun Ale, an auction of great items and super entertainment: Famous Irish balladeer Bob Reeder, joined by Rince’ Revolution (pronounced rink-a), Kansas City’s only professional Irish dance team. The Grand Marshal Celebration is a fundraiser to help provide part of the nearly $50,000 that will be given away on Snake Saturday. VIP Tables for 10 are $250. Fewer than 40 tickets remain! Call 816-421-4438 for reservations.
Following that will be the Lad & Lassie Contest at the NKC Community Center, 1999 Iron Street, on Saturday, March 3 at 1 p.m. (new time this year). The contest is open to boys and girls from Clay and Platte counties, ages 2-7. The children are judged based on charm and “Irish spirit” – not talent or beauty. Many of the children will be wearing elaborate Irish costumes, although we do not encourage families to “go all out”. Every child who competes will win a “bag of Irish goodies” and the winners will ride in the Snake Saturday Parade on March 10th! Great photo ops!
A Charity Cook-off will begin at approximately 6 p.m. on Friday, March 9 on the Snake Saturday Festival grounds, near 18th Ave and Fayette. Up to 25 charities will compete by cooking a (provided) steak for their chance at wining the $1,000 grand prize!
The NKC Rotary Club is hosting a Missouri State Championship Barbecue Contest in conjunction with Snake Saturday on March 9th and 10th. (www.nkcrotary.org) Teams are expected to come from 6 states!
Snake Saturday is always held the Saturday preceding St. Patrick’s Day, which means it will be March 10th this year. We’re expecting 100,000 people to join us in North Kansas City! This will be the 28th annual Snake Saturday, which was named in honor of St. Patrick allegedly driving the snakes (evil spirits) out of 5th century Ireland. With the parade, festival and BBQ contest, Snake Saturday is truly the biggest St. Patrick’s themed event in the metro!
The Festival is 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. in the vicinity of 18th Ave and Fayette, and includes a carnival midway, big race car show (most drivers let the kiddos sit in their cars, and give the kids free mini-racing flags), live children’s entertainment, free petting zoo, pony rides and balloons! Other than carnival rides, food concessions and souvenirs, everything at the festival is free for families. We feel the festival with so many free activities really sets us apart from other parades and festivals. Theatre Tech Productions and Cowgirl Kate will entertain the children.
The parade begins at 11 a.m. at 14th and Swift, heads north to Armour, turns east to Howell, then south to 18th Avenue. (I will send a new, really helpful map in the next few days.) If folks want to hear announcers talk about the floats in the parade, they should find a spot near the intersection of Armour & Swift or near Armour and Howell. The parade should last approximately two hours and feature 100 entries.
Parade winners will be announced at 3 p.m. inside the NKC Community Center at 1999 Iron Street.
More information and all Entry Forms available at www.SnakeSaturday.com orwww.Facebook.com/SnakeSaturdayParade or by calling 816-421-4438.