Everyone Will Be Irish On Saturday

The streets of downtown Spokane will turn into a river of green during the 22nd annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Saturday.

The floats get started at noon just north of the Spokane Opera House on Washington and will zigzag through downtown, winding along Spokane Falls Boulevard, Bernard, Main and Stevens before ending in front of City Hall.

In addition to dozens of floats in green hues, this year’s parade will include the Washington Air National Guard Band and Color Guard, the Angus Scot Pipe Band of Spokane, two pipe bands from Canada, and cartoon characters such as Fred Flinstone and Dino.

The parade got its start in 1951, but soon went on hiatus when the organizer moved away. The event was resurrected in 1978.

As in year’s past, Irish men and women will be honored during the event. Father Frank Costello of Gonzaga University, his brother Joe Costello and their sister, Sister Mother Mary Michael, have been selected to be the Grand Marshals. Spokane City councilman Rob Higgins has been named Irish Man of the Year.

Gracia Anderson, known as the “puppet lady” at Sacred Heart Medical Center, is the Irish Woman of the Year. Tim and Patty Higgins head up the Irish Clan of the Year. The Irish Business of the Year is the Ram Corporation, which runs the Ram Restaurant and C.I. Shenanigan’s. Shannon Meeks is this year’s Irish Colleen.

Registrations for entries will be accepted up to 11 a.m. on parade day. Forms will be available at the staging area. Check-in at the staging area, the northeast Spokane Arena parking lot, begins at 9 a.m. Commercial entries are $100, all others are free.

Boone and Washington near the staging area will close at 9 a.m. and streets on the parade route will close at 11 a.m. All streets will reopen when the parade concludes.

Entrants can also call the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick at 880-2785 to sign up to be in the parade.