March Irish Madness

Looking for something fun and family friendly this St. Patrick’s Day? We have your guide to St. Patrick’s Day events and activities in the Kansas City area. Paradise Park: Kansas City’s Premier Family Destination located in Lee’s Summit has tons of leprechaun-approved fun and spring-themed adventures. Also don’t forget about the Ollie’s Egg Hunt on March 19 and March 26. Snake Saturday Parade: Drive up to North Kansas City on March 12 for the Snake Parade at 11:00 a.m. This is the parade’s 31st year. The Theme is “Wee the People”. Snake Saturday is the largest Irish Festival in the area, with nearly 100,000 participants in the two day event. Snake Saturday begins on Friday evening with the opening of the carnival area and the Annual Charity Cook-off. The event continues on Saturday with the addition of food vendors, free children’s area, children’s stage and the parade. Over the past 30 years, Snake Saturday has given over $1 million to charities. Brookside St. Patrick’s Day Warm-Up Parade: Brookside Shopping District hosts its Warm-Up Parade this weekend, on March 12. More than 100 organizations representing groups and families of all ages participate in this fun, family-oriented event. This annual parade occurs on the Saturday before St. Patrick’s Day and kicks off the week in Kansas City to celebrate your Irish heritage. Emerald Isle Parade: Downtown Lee’s Summit celebrates St. Patrick’s Day with a family friendly parade hosted by Llywelyn’s Pub. This parade features floats, walking groups, Irish dancers, musicians and more. Other activities include an Irish Breakfast for your whole family, a home brew competition, a Pot O’ Gold Coin Hunt for the children and a pub crawl for the adults. Shawnee St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Duck Race: On Sunday March 13, the Irish American Club of Johnson County will host its 34th Annual Parade and Duck Race. The Duck Race is the main fundraiser each year for the Shawnee Sister Cities Committee and 100 percent of the proceeds go to the committee. The Duck Race follows the parade which will start at 1:00 p.m.  Stay for the annual Heroes Pull, in which the Shawnee fire and police departments raise money for Special Olympics of Kansas, beginning at 2:30p.m. in the Splash Cove parking lot. Teams compete by pulling a Shawnee Fire Truck and a Lenco Armored Tactical Vehicle. Annual Kansas City St. Patrick’s Day Parade: On March 17 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in Midtown Kansas City, the 44th Annual Kansas City St. Patrick’s Day Parade will be a fun event for all. This parade has become Kansas City’s largest single day civic event as well as one of the largest St. Patrick’s Day parades in the nation. St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Lawrence.  Lawrence, Kansas will host its St. Patrick’s Day parade on March 17. Leavenworth St. Patrick’s Day Parade:  On March 17 from 12:00-1:30 p.m. join Leavenworth, Kansas in celebrating its 33rd Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade. If St. Patrick’s Day is not your idea of fun, then come downtown and watch some college basketball. Kansas City is once again hosting the Big 12 Tournament. The tournament runs from Wednesday, March 9 through Saturday, March 12.  If you don’t have a ticket, all week long basketball fans can enjoy free live entertainment during the District’s Miller Lite Basketball Fan Fest. Cheer on your favorite teams at pep rallies inside KC Live! — the heated, open-air venue inside the District.