Quad Citians will be wearing their green and shaking their shillelaghs in the streets of downtown Davenport and Rock Island on Saturday, March 18, when a number of signature Quad Cities St. Patrick’s Day weekend events take center stage.
“Visitors and residents alike will tell you that the Quad Cities puts on one of the best St. Patrick’s Day parades in the Midwest, and Iowa’s largest St. Patrick’s Day party,” Visit Quad Cities promised in a recent news release.
The all-day, bi-state fun hits the starting gate at 9 a.m. at Main and Second streets in Davenport for the 41st Annual CASI St. Patrick’s Day Race, presented by Vibrant Credit Union. The event is a key fundraiser for the Center for Active Seniors, Inc., Davenport, which is celebrating its golden anniversary this year.
The CASI event features a 5K race presented by Vibrant at 10 a.m., a 1-mile Family Run presented by Eaton at 9:30 a.m. and a Tot Trot presented by Sears Seating at 9 a.m.
Runners and walkers can sign up here through Thursday, March 16. Last-minute registration also is available through race day. Ghost Runners also can show their support for the cause without actually running the race by donating $30 on the same website.
Community support is especially critical these days for CASI due to the loss of $700,000 in income during a year-long COVID-19 closure. CASI also lost funding when the run had a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic. In addition, local funding pressures are threatening Jane’s Place, its daycare center for seniors with memory challenges. CASI’s leaders say the race is a great way to join the annual St. Paddy’s Day party while helping CASI thrive.
The downtown fun continues at 11:30 a.m. across the Mississippi River. That’s when what has been described as one of the best St. Patrick’s Day parades in the nation – and the only one that crosses state lines – will step off in downtown Rock Island before crossing the Centennial Bridge into Davenport.
The Quad Cities Grand Parade XXXVII, which Visit Quad Cities said was recently named as one of the top 10 St. Patrick’s Day Parades in North America, is organized by the St. Patrick Society of the Quad Cities. It will once again feature Irish dancers, floats, groups, and family clans. For more information on the Grand Parade XXXVII weekend and a map of the parade route, visit the St. Patrick Society’s website at www.stpatsqc.com.
This year’s parade also will celebrate the Quad Cities own Mr. Thanksgiving. Bob Vogelbaugh, who this year will mark his 53rd free community Thanksgiving celebration at SouthPark Mall, is the 2023 parade grand marshal. He’ll be joined by the society’s 2023 Irish Mother Mary O’Brien Damasso. A lifelong resident of the Quad Cities, this Silvis community leader is a dedicated volunteer who supports the food pantry and serves meals to those in need through the St. Joseph the Worker mealsite, and provides meals to the homebound and caregivers.
Prior to the parade, the duo will be honored, along with current and past scholarship winners at the annual Gathering of the Clans Luncheon at The RiverCenter. Doors open at 11 a.m.
At around that time, thousands of visitors and locals are expected to be lining up in downtown Rock Island and Davenport for the grand procession which is expected to end at 1:30 p.m.
The fun doesn’t stop then, however. Immediately after the Grand Parade, a Post Parade Bash will be held at the RiverCenter to welcome revelers with food, drink, live Irish music, dancers, and the presentation of the parade trophy winners.
The doors open at 1 p.m. and close at 4:30 p.m. Entry to the Post Parade Bash is by membership, with $15 memberships available at the door. You don’t have to be Irish to join. Persons 15 and under, accompanied by an adult, are free.
Throughout the downtowns, corned beef and cabbage, green beer, and live music are part of the St. Patrick’s weekend festivities. All along the parade route there are places to celebrate. Among the spots Visit Quad Cities suggests for a stop are:
- The Mississippi Valley Fairgrounds, 2815 W. Locust St., Davenport, St. Patrick’s Day two-day. Doors open at the huge, indoor event hall at 4:30 p.m. on Friday, March 17, with 20 hours of live music planned throughout Friday and Saturday, a Friday night lighted parade, fair food vendors, expanded kids zone to both days, and the return of the Flying Leprechaun Sky Divers on both Friday night and Saturday afternoon. Camping will be available. For more information, visit www.mvfair.com
- Harrington’s Pub, 2321 Cumberland Square, Bettendorf, has a large St. Pat’s Celebration on Saturday, March 18 with complimentary corned beef and cabbage at noon followed by live music. The night ends with karaoke from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.
- Kavanaugh’s Hilltop, 1228 30th Street, Rock Island, hosts its 11th Annual Shamrockin’ Paddy O’Pardy on Saturday, March 18, starting at 1 p.m. with a huge, heated tent, food, drink, and live music with Phyllis & the Sharks, Far Out 283, and Vital Signs.
- Brandon’s Pub & Grille, 3008 7th Ave. Rock Island. Live music will be starting at 10 a.m. Saturday, March 18, along with St. Patrick’s food and drink favorites.
