March 4, 2023

By Donnie Rodgers
Executive Director Downtown Lee’s Summit Main Street

Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day early at the 17th annual Emerald Isle Parade in Downtown Lee’s Summit on Saturday, March 11th. The parade is hosted by Downtown Lee’s Summit Main Street and presented by ReeceNichols Lee’s Summit. Attendees are encouraged to gather along 3rd and Green streets in Downtown Lee’s Summit to watch the parade when it kicks off at noon.

Prior to the parade, parents can take their little lads and lasses 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. No registration is necessary.

Hubert Neth will lead the parade as the 2023 Grand Marshal. Hubert is a long-time resident of Lee’s Summit and has served the community as a minister with Summit Park and Grace United Methodist churches. In addition to his ministry and service to the community at large, he is a prolific poet, submitting his free-form poems to the community through the “Lee’s Summit Journal” and then “Link 2 Lee’s Summit.”

Hubert Neth“Hubert has been a friend since I first met him during my time at the Journal,” said Link 2 Lee’s Summit publisher and DLSMS Board Member Nick Parker. “He is one of the most genuine and kind people I have ever met. His service to our community has come in so many forms. He is a minister, an advocate, a poet, and most of all, a friend. I am honored the Downtown organization can celebrate Hubert and his contributions by naming him the Grand Marshal for this year’s Emerald Isle Parade.”

Parade entries will vie for one of four coveted awards, to be presented by Master of Ceremonies Charlie Keegan from KSHB41 at the judges’ stand at 3rd and Douglas streets. Immediately following the parade, attendees are welcome to stick around for the Strother District’s Emerald Isle Pub Crawl, which will continue into the evening. Visit Konrad’s Kitchen and Tap House to purchase an Emerald Isle Pub Crawl T-shirt and lanyard for $15 (cash only). The pub crawl is ages 21 and up.

The Emerald Isle Parade is presented by ReeceNichols Lee’s Summit, and sponsored by Dog Training Elite, Aristocrat Motors, Royal Roll Offs, Freestyle Graphics, Five Farms Irish Cream and Downtown Lee’s Summit Main Street.