The 39th Annual Parade and Festival theme is “Super Shimmering Shamrock”.

Grand Marshal Celebration

Harrah’s VooDoo Lounge on March 2, 2023.

The event starts at 6:00 P.M. We will be utilizing auctria software for our online bidding and checkout process at the Grand Marshal Celebration. We are asking everyone to register at https://auctria.events/snakesaturday.

Let’s begin with the first Snake Saturday event each year, the annual Grand Marshal Celebration. This year’s event will be at Harrah’s VooDoo Lounge on March 2, 2023. The Grand Marshal of the parade is introduced along with the annual Shamrock Award. The Shamrock Award (“Green Jacket”) is presented to a volunteer or organization who has been part of Snake Saturday for at least five years. The supporting community provides several donations which are distributed via a silent and/or live auction and other fun activities. All these funds are collected and distributed to the various charities and organizations which make up the parade.

Tables are $250 a table for your business or group of friends (10 to a table) or $25 a single ticket. Everyone is welcome to attend the celebration and support the charities and pay honor to the Grand Marshal.

Charity Cook–Off

The Charity Cook–Off is held the Friday night before the parade in the Festival Area by the carnival at the big tent and is a key event of Snake Saturday. The festivity is organized by Northland Festivals, Inc. and has great sponsors including The City of North Kansas City, North Kansas City Hospital, North Kansas City Beverage and many others. The Charity Cook-Off has served as a fundraiser helping over 25 charity/501c3 organizations that grill and compete for prize monies. The overall winner receives $1,000 and an engraved plaque at the awards ceremony.

Lad and Lassie Contest:

Saturday March 4, 2023

This event is held at the NKC Parks and Recreation Center starting at 10:30 A.M. the day of the event. New for 2023 Worlds of Fun will be sponsoring this event with prizes and character appearances. This always fun event just keeps getting better and better every year. Sign up your child(ren) and let’s have a great time.

The Saturday before the parade and festival is the annual Lad and Lassie Contest. In 2023 that will be March 4th. This is not a talent or beauty contest. Children are judged based on “Irish Spirit” and Charm. Two Age Categories: 2-4-Year-old Lad and Lassie, 5–7-Year-old Lad and Lassie (Contestants will have their birthday by March 1st, 2023, to qualify). Costumes are not required, but an “Irish Flair” is encouraged. Children may dress up in green, their favorite Irish apparel or outfits in line with the yearly theme. Contestants may only win the title in each age division one time. The winners of each group ride in the parade the following week.

The Festival

The festival area is for families to participate before, during, and after the parade with a carnival, children’s petting zoo, children’s stage show, the Clyde Ellis race car show provided by the Central Auto Racing Boosters, and various other activities. This area located in the parking lot at the corner of Howell and 18th Street is designed for children. Enjoy a tasty funnel cake, a root beer, popcorn, a sandwich, a sausage, ice cream, whatever may be your favorite fair treat along concession row. The festival area carries on the tradition of our founder, Mickey Finn, by being an area for children to enjoy their day!

Parade

Parade Route

The parade starts at 11:00 A.M. always the Saturday before Saint Patrick’s Day. The beginning of the parade is at 14th and Swift and moves north on Swift. At Armour Road the parade will turn east proceeding past the judges and the main Grandstand in front of City Hall. At Howell street the parade turns back to the South and disperses at 16th Street.

Click Here for Parade Staging

Date: March 11, 2023

Click Here For More Information