Join the St. Patrick’s Day Festival this Saturday, March 15, at St. Patrick’s Episcopal Church from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. for not only the “world’s shortest parade,” but family fun, free chili dogs and a chance for children to ride on the float with St. Patrick.
While it may be billed as the world’s shortest parade as it traverses St. Patrick’s parking lot, it’s actually not the world’s smallest parade, as it comprises several Pagosa Springs’ organizations.
Leading the parade will be the Boy Scout Troop 807 Color Guard, followed by our ageless Magnificent and Marvelous Majorettes.
The star of the parade will certainly be St. Patrick’s, riding on an emerald float with any and all children who wish to participate. As St. Patrick is known for expelling the snakes out of Ireland, look for parade participants reenacting this feat (with fake reptiles, of course).
Next to march will be the young adults from Aspen House, followed by our Spanish Fiesta Court of Royalty.
A parade would not be a proper parade without including our dedicated first responders, represented by a bright, crimson fire truck from the Pagosa Fire Protection District and accompanied by a Pagosa Springs Medical Center EMS Team. And if those vehicles aren’t big enough, we have included one of Elite Recycling and Disposal’s massive trucks. The Shriners will return this year with their Tin Lizzie vehicular antics, followed by a calmer drive-by of a 1930 Model A Ford pickup, courtesy of Wings Early Childhood Center.
What about the traditional bagpipes sounding the arrival of St. Patrick? This year, Master Piper Jim Dorian will not only be leading his merry band in serenading the crowd, but will provide “practice pipes” for attendees to learn and practice the delicate fingering required to produce those unique bagpipe tones.
Want to walk in the parade? You are encouraged to bring your leashed dogs as the parade will end with owners and their canine friends bouncing and barking once they hear the squeal of the bagpipes.
As the parade concludes, attendees will be able to enjoy free chili dogs, 18 local vendor booths, children’s activities and, of course, Irish coffee and beer for sale. Any profits will be returned to community-focused ministries, including the St. Patrick’s Food Pantry, to which parade visitors are encouraged to donate canned vegetables and fruit, boxed macaroni and cheese, and peanut butter. Donation boxes will be clearly marked near the church entrance.
The festival will take place in St. Patrick’s Episcopal Church parking lot at 225 South Pagosa Blvd. Our neighbors, John Paul II Catholic Church and the Pagosa Springs Medical Center, have graciously opened their adjacent parking lots to attendees, as parade activities will be occupying St. Patrick’s main parking lot. Handicapped parking, however, will be available in the main lot at the direction of the marshalers.
With the U.S. 160 construction preempting Pagosa’s Fourth of July parade this year, this is the 2025 parade to attend. The parade steps off at 11:15 a.m. Saturday morning and the chili dogs will be ready for all immediately thereafter.
So, cloak yourself in your brightest green outfits to join the celebration. And, and don’t be late — the world’s shortest parade is a fun, but fleeting, Pagosa moment.
