Updated – 3/16/2021
What started as a small parade is now a community event! What’s the buzz? St. Patrick’s Day of course! Start your morning and go right into lunch time with special beverages and menu items at the businesses listed below. We have nearly 20 confirmed entries in the parade and several local businesses have joined in too.
-During the day, The Polished Bean will be offering special Irish based drinks & coffees. The Polished Edge is also having a fabulous SALE!
-Starting at 4PM, Rain Brews will begin offering traditional Irish food, with Corned Beef & Cabbage (until it’s gone), plus green beer, Irish Coffee, Guiness, a shot of Jameson and more. Rhi Rhi will be there and wants to see YOU!
-The Vali 3 Theater will be open for concessions and popcorn before and during the parade.
–Southern Colorado Computer Services will be open with 17% off writing instruments and other select items. A Big Thank You to Raina Bowsher for donating the parade entry forms.
-Festive Irish novelty hats and tiaras are now available for sale at FaeMoon Wolf Designs and The Polished Bean. You don’t have to wait, get yours now.
-Pre-parade, Irish based music on Adams Street will be provided complements of San Luis Valley Broadcasting, starting around 5PM. Our thanks to Bob Richards at KSLV/KYDN-Radio.
-The Color Guard will be provided by Gene Farish and fellow veterans. Special thanks to Gene for arranging for the Color Guard on such short notice.
-Lineup for the parade starts at 4:45PM in the parking lot of Stars & Strikes. Judging begins at 5PM and the parade will start at 5:30PM sharp. We appreciate Starla and the good folks at Stars & Strikes for allowing us to use their parking lot as a parade staging area.
-The parade will go west on 2nd Avenue to Adams Street. North on Adams Street to 1st Avenue. West on 1st Avenue to Washington Street. South on Washington Street to 2nd Avenue. East on 2nd Avenue back to Stars & Strikes.
-The parade announcers are local author Roy Aiken, along with OptiMystic Co-Founder Ken Hamko and Tara Halenza. They’ll be located on Adams Street to talk about the entries as they go by the judges table.
-The PA System for the announcers is being provided by Valley Communications. A Big Shout-out to Cliff Kincannon and Kenny Bertin for providing the PA System and setting it up.
-The LDS Youth Group will be collecting non-perishable, unopened, unexpired food for the Monte Vista Emergency Food Bank. You can drop off your donation from 5:00PM to 6:30PM in front of RG Bank at the corner of Adams Street and 1st Avenue. Other drop off locations are in front of Top Value or Safeway.
So, don your favorite Irish Green, pick up your St. Patrick’s Day hat or tiara on site, and come enjoy the fun.
Our heartfelt thanks to FaeMoon Wolf Designs, Quincy’s Tavern and Rancho de Animales for donating the first, second & third place prizes for the parade entrants. Thanks as well to Rebecca Copley and the Monte Vista Journal for covering this event.
We ask that you please abide by the current social distance and state/local health guidelines. Monte Vista and Rio Grande County are currently at Level Blue. Thank you.
