Lawrence.com

St. Patrick's Day Parade: 1pm @ South ParkParade ends with $5 Dinner @ The Pink Flamingo ClubThey say everyone is Irish on St. Patrick's Day and Kansans are no exception. The Lawrence's St. Patrick's Day parade is one of a kind and regardless of whether you are a Gaelophile or not, this is the most flamboyant, local street event of the year.On Wednesday March 17, at 1 p.m., a procession of floats, somersaulting funambulists, vintage autos, hot-dog vending golf-carts and other extravagant visions in green will congregate at South Park to begin their march down Massachussetts Street. The Wild Women of the Frontier are the major highlight in this year's parade. From Annie Oakely to Calamity Jane - take your pick as eighteen women on horseback, in full western regalia, ride through town keeping that hyphen in what it means to be both Irish and American.This year's Grand Marshall, Mr. Brian Mc Rae (KC Royals 1990-1994) will lead the procession across the river and down Locust Street into North Lawrence. The parade draws the whole neighborhood out as it nears its final destination at the Pink Flamingo club. For those concerned, rest assured the dancers at the club have the day off, but as tradition has it, Miss Kansas will be in situ (fully dressed that is!).Strange as it may seem to some, there are multiple reasons why this unique location is the most appropriate place for the parade finale. Clubowner, Mr. Wesley Kabler, is one of the founding members of the St. Patrick's Day committee. If it wasn't for him and a handful of his friends, Lawrentians would still have to drive to KC or Topeka for the occasion.The club provides safe and ample space to handle the volume and flow of human, animal and motor traffic. It has a proper stage (albeit with a pole and mirrors) to house the annual 'Junkyard Jazz' band who jam on all kinds of old-time favourites throughout the day. The stage also functions as a coronation platform for announcing this year's Queen; a pre-Parade event that takes place on March 14 at 7pm (See schedule below for details). The young ladies nominated this year are Erin Adams, Jenny Hohman, Erin McNeese, Heidi Nelson and Breanne Patton. Big Ben's St. Patrick's Day buffet provides the perfect post-parade fare for the starving masses who fast for the entire morning in anticipation of his mountains of food. Ben is the resident cook at 'The Bird' and this is his sixth year catering for the St. Paddy's Day crowd. Moms, Dads, kids and all kinds of other revellers arrive in droves to eat his corned beef, cabbage and mashed spuds. The line for his $5 feast extends out the front and back doors into the car-park. This year's menu also features a barbequed pork sandwich and green sponge cake. Ben expects at least two-hundred people.The Lawrence Parade is not just an occasion to celebrate Irishness, its also a day for the Lawrence community to celebrate its own identity. Seventeen years ago, the parade committee raised $1,000 for the March of Dimes foundation. This year, they have raised $35,000 for the Crown Casting Club, a local, free membership group that organizes fishing and other outdoor activities for kids. This year's parade is also dedicated to all the men and women in the military. On that note, may we wish you a happy and peace-filled St. Patrick's Day and remember, as we Irish say..."May those who love us - love us And those that don't love us, May God turn their hearts, And if He doesn't turn their hearts, May he turn their ankles, So we'll know them by their limping."--Sorcha Hyland-SidenerFor further information contact: Gene Shaughnessy 785-393-1972.