116 3rd St SE
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
Cedar Rapids SaPaDaPaSo parade kicks off Iowa St. Patrick’s Day events
Events abound throughout Eastern Iowa, beginning with Saturday’s parade
St. Patrick’s Day still is on March 17, but the SaPaDaPaSo parade is moving to Saturday, March 12. Festivities begin at 1 p.m., along the traditional parade route snaking through the heart of downtown Cedar Rapids.
Post-parade awards and celebration will follow at 2 p.m. at the HarMac Industrial Event Space, 411 Sixth Ave. SE, Cedar Rapids. This all-ages event is open to the public, and food and beverages will be available for purchase. The awards will be handed out around 4:30 p.m.
► Click to see the parade route
Here are other ways to break out your green garb, kick up your heels, and celebrate all things Irish. Slainte!
Cedar Rapids
March 12
Young at Harp: Concert in the Commons. When: Noon to 12:45 p.m. Saturday, March 12. Where: Cedar Rapids Public Library, 450 Fifth Ave. SE. Admission: Free.
The Bohemian’s St. Paddy’s Party: Beginning at 3 p.m. Saturday, March 12. Where: The Bohemian, 1029 Third St SE. Music: 3 to 5 p.m. Mike Maas and Carlis Faurot and their Irish Band; 5 to 7 p.m. O’Keith, Mr. Fiddle & Friends, 7 p.m. traditional Irish pub music and dance session. Also: St. Patrick’s Day Celtic Jazz, 7 p.m. March 17.
Chrome Horse St. Patrick’s Day Parade Party: All day fun. Where: Chrome Horse Saloon NewBo, 1201 Third St. SE. When: Saturday, March 12; brunch 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Well Lit onstage 3 to 7 p.m.; Slap N Tickle onstage 8 p.m. to midnight.
March 16
St. Patrick’s Dinner: Inspired by Irish classics, this meal will be prepared by various NewBo Market Shopkeepers, with some modern twists. When: 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, March 16. Where: NewBo City Market, 1100 Third St. SE. Cost: $30 to $42, eventbrite.com/ or newbocitymarket.org/events-at-the-market
March 17
Dr. Z’s Experiment: Music to help you connect to your Irish roots, whether they exist or not. When: 7 to 10 p.m. March 17. Where: Moco Game Room & Hot Dog Bar, 1602 E Ave. NE.
March 19
Cedar Rapids Leprechaun Run: Irish District pub crawl. When: March 19. Where: Various routes on the northeast side. Details: https://z-p3-upload.facebook.com/events/380456727251743/
Lucky’s St. Patrick’s Day Crawl: Fifth annual luckiest bar crawl of the year, with drink specials, costume contest, food, after party. When: 4 to 11:59 p.m. March 19. Where: Check-in 4 to 6 p.m. at Pub 217, 217 Third St. SE. Tickets: $15 to $20, crawlwith.us/cedarrapids/stpattys#tickets Event details: facebook.com/events/3091437054479178/
Coggon
Irish Jam: Irish music and storytelling. The Cedar Rapids-based Irish Jam band is known for its authentic Irish sound and will feature all the familiar Irish favorites, along will Darrin Crow sharing Irish tales. Band members include violinist Carlis Faurot, Joe and Debbie Byrd, and John O’Connell. When: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 12. Where: Coggon Opera House, 209. E. Main St. Tickets: $15 general admission, at the door. Details or reservations: (319) 435-2071.
Des Moines
St. Paddy's Half Marathon, 5K and Marathon: March 19. All participants will receive an event gear item and commemorative pint glass. When: 7:15 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. Where: Iowa State Capitol, East Locust Street and Pennsylvania Avenue. Cost: $40 to $130. Details: iowaruns.com/desmoinesstpaddys5k
St. Patrick’s Day Parade: March 17 festivities in the downtown Capitol complex, planned by the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick of Central Iowa. Tailgate Party: opens at 8 a.m., 13th Street and Grand Avenue, with VIP parade viewing, food, drinks, entertainment. Parade: Noon, route follows 15th Street up to Grand Avenue, stopping at Eighth Street. Details: facebook.com/2017parade/
Dubuque
Skerryvore: Contemporary Scottish traditional music, with a mix of fiddle, accordions, pipes and whistles, alongside guitar and vocals, underpinned by driving bass, drums and keys. When: 7:30 to 9 p.m. March 17. Where: John and Alice Butler Hall, University of Dubuque Heritage Center, 2255 Bennett St. Tickets: $20 to $35 at heritagecenter.vbotickets.com/events
Dyersville
Parade and Mass: Ancient Order of Hibernians — Dubuque County No. 1, presents Dyersville's annual St. Patrick's Day Parade and Mass. When: Saturday, March 12. Church celebration: 10:30 a.m., St. Francis Xavier Basilica. Parade: 1:30 p.m., downtown route.
Commercial Club Park & Events Center: Day full of activities. When: 3:30 to 11:45 p.m. Saturday, March 12. Where: 225 11th St. SE. Events: Include Leprechaun Leap, 9:30 a.m.; Gaelic Gallop 10 a.m., Shamrock Ride, 10:30 a.m.; live music, food and drink specials. Details: commercialclubpark.com/events
Emmetsburg
St. Patrick’s Weekend Celebration: March 13, 17 to 20. Looking for a town with its own Blarney stone and Irish roots? Make a weekend trip to Emmetsburg, lying 3 hours and 22 minutes northwest of Cedar Rapids.
March 13: Jr. Miss and Miss Shamrock Pageants, 3 to 7 p.m., Emmetsburg Community School Auditorium, $5.
March 17: St. Pat's Headquarters open house, 3 to 5 p.m., Irish coffee and treats.
March 18: includes fish fry, 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., VFW Hall; bean bag tournament, 5:30 to 10 p.m., heated tent at 10th and Broadway; Irish folk band, 7 to 10:30 p.m., VFW Hall, freewill offering.
March 19: Activities all day, with the Famous St. Patrick’s Day Parade at noon on Broadway; also morning scholarship run, Kids Zone, chain saw artist, free movie, ending with New Trick Band, 8:30 to 11:30 p.m. at the heated tent.
March 20: Rotary pancake breakfast, 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., VFW Hall; trap shoot noon to 3 p.m., Sportsman’s Park. Details: emmetsburgirishgifts.com/activities.php#thursday
Garrison
Bob Black & Banjoy with fiddler Joy Ward: Irish, bluegrass and Midwestern roots music. When: 2 to 4:30 p.m. Sunday, March 13. Where: Farmers Mercantile Hall, 100 W. Main St. Admission: $10. Details: banjoy.com/news/
Iowa City
Wylde Nept: St. Patrick’s Day Eve celebration. When: 8 p.m. Wednesday, March 16. Where: Wildwood BBQ & Saloon, 4919 Walleye Dr. SE. Tickets: $15 general admission, $20 reserved table, tixr.com/groups/wildwood/events/wylde-nept-37118
Kalona
St. Patrick’s Day Celebration: Stomp your feet, sip an Irish ale, and feast on a special Irish-themed dinner. Music by Blame Not the Bard. When: 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. March 17. Where: Kalona Brewing Company, 405 B Ave. Reservations: (319) 656-3335. Details: kalonabrewing.com/
Lisbon
Mike Maas Trio: The Irish Band: Irish food and music. When: 6 to 8 p.m. March 17. Where: Sutliff Farm & Cider House, 382 Sutliff Rd., Lisbon.
Waterloo
Wylde Nept: Irish celebration. When: 7 to 10 p.m. March 17. Where: Jameson’s Public House, 310 Fourth St.
Comments: (319) 368-8508; diana.nollen@thegazette.com
Jenna Baker (left), 8, and her brother Cameron, 6, dance as they march the parade route during the 2014 St. Patrick's Day Parade in Cedar Rapids. The parade is organized by the Saint Patrick's Day Parade Society or better known as SaPaDaPaSo. The non-profit run by volunteers has been organizing the parades since 1977. The first parade was held in 1975. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)
You never know what's in store during the annual SaPaDaPaSo St. Patrick's Day Parade in downtown Cedar Rapids. In 2019, Kelly Glynn (right) is shown singing an Irish love serenade to his bride, Krista Hennager, both of Clarence, following their marriage in front of the judges stage. Glynn's older brother, Jim Glynn (left), a church pastor living in San Juan Capistrano, Calif., officiated the ceremony. This year's parade will be held Saturday, March 12, in downtown Cedar Rapids. (Ben Roberts/Freelance)
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