Nearly 100 floats will cruise through Downtown Lee’s Summit on Saturday, March 9^th for the EMERALD ISLE PARADE. This community tradition, now in its 14th year, is put on by Downtown Lee’s Summit Main Street. Don’t be surprised if you see a DeLorean or a few Madonna impersonators at this year’s event. The parade will feature an “Irishly 80’s” theme, an homage to the organization’s founding year of 1989. Find a spot along Green, Third or S.E. Main streets in Downtown Lee’s Summit before the parade kicks off at noon.

Parade-goers can enjoy a delicious start to their day with the All Patriots Breakfast at the VFW. Before the parade, parents can take their little lads and lassies to Howard Station Park for the Bits O’ Gold Coin Hunt at 11:30 a.m. Children 8 and younger may participate in this race to find green and gold coins in the grass at Howard Station Park. No registration is necessary.

The Emerald Isle Parade committee will honor the W. Ferrell Shuck Family as the 2019 Parade Grand Marshal. Ferrell served as publisher of the Lee’s Summit Journal for 35 years, and was an active community leader who championed the downtown district. When he passed away in December, the planning committee wanted to honor his legacy. Leading the parade, in his honor, are Shuck’s wife, Janice, and their four children Beverly, Greg, Cindy, and Julie.

Erin Little from KCTV5 will serve as the Master of Ceremonies, and will be at the center of the action at the judges’ stand at Third and Green streets. Paradejudges for this year are Abigael Jaymes, reporter for KCTV 5; Rick Poeschl, Lee’s Summit Fire Chief; and Major Mike Childs with the Lee’s Summit Police Department.

The parade’s presenting sponsor, Llywelyn’s Pub, is one of over a dozen bars participating in the Emerald Isle Pub Crawl, which will take place at approximately 1PM following the parade and will continue into the evening. Visit any of the bars in Downtown Lee’s Summit to purchase an Emerald Isle Pub Crawl T-shirt and lanyard for $10.

For more details, visit www.downtownLS.org/events.

The Emerald Isle Parade is presented by Llywelyn’s Pub, and sponsored by TMC Lakewood Counseling, Weed Man, Cable Dahmer Automotive Group, and Downtown Lee’s Summit Main Street.