Downtown Traffic Rerouted For Parade, ‘Phantom’ Crowds Playgoers Urged To Arrive Early For Opera House Matinee

Sat., March 11, 2000

From Staff Reports

The Phantom of the Opera may ask his love Christine to sing him a new song this afternoon - “When Irish Eyes Are Smiling.”

The route of the St. Patrick’s Day Parade will cross paths with “The Phantom of the Opera” crowds today.

The 22nd annual parade, which gets started at noon just north of the Spokane Opera House on Washington, is scheduled to last three hours. Zigzagging through downtown will be green floats, 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 Flintstone and Dino. Organizers expect more than 200 entries to travel down streets lined with thousands of spectators.

To avoid conflicts, parade organizers are suggesting that playgoers arrive early for the 2 p.m. matinee of Phantom. The parade runs right in front of the Opera House. Access and parking might be a problem as some streets close at 11 a.m. for the noon parade.

But fear not. The city has devised a special traffic plan to keep the spectacles separate.

Using a special route, buses and limousines may drop off people in front of the Convention Center on Spokane Falls Boulevard. Police will direct drop-off vehicles south over Division Street Bridge in the far right lane and then west onto Spokane Falls. Buses and limos will leave the area by turning south onto a fenced-off lane on the far east side of Bernard Street.

Access to the parking lots directly across from the Opera House will be restricted by 11 a.m. today, but access to the Parkade and RiverPark Square garages will be maintained.

The streets will be reopened before the close of the performance.

The parade stutter-started in 1951, but soon went on hiatus when the organizer moved away. The annual event was resurrected in 1978.

As in years past, parade organizers have selected Irish men and women to honor during the event.

The Rev. Frank Costello of Gonzaga University, his brother Joe and their sister Sister Mother Mary Michael of Bridal Veil, Ore., 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 Shenanigan’s. Shannon Meeks is this year’s Irish Colleen.

And afterward, two Celtic bands will perform at the River Park Square Atrium. From 3 to 5 p.m., Jan Turley will play a Celtic harp. From 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., The Finesse Celtic Trio performs.

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