Denver St. Patrick’s Day Parade News
All you need to know for our 2017 parade!
We have a LOT to cover this week about the final weekend of float building and the parade. If you plan on participating with us in the parade next Saturday, March 11, this is all info you need to know. I know it’s long, but PLEASE read through to the end. I have hidden some very important information down there, but you’ll only know if you read the whole thing…
Float Building This Weekend
The weather should be perfect for our final float build weekend! We covered most of the rules and info in last week’s email, so if you missed it, read more by clicking here. Below are the basics for this weekend:
WHERE: Pete Grosskreuz’s house in Arvada. Full address was sent via your CPHC email. If you didn’t receive it, please email me at for more details.
WHEN: We’ll be there Saturday 3/4 and Sunday 3/5 from 10:00 AM until around 4:00 PM.
WHO SHOULD COME: Everyone! We have lots of work to be done, so even if you can’t swing a hammer, please come by and pitch in for a few hours. We will especially need people to help make our huge field of poppies, and no skill or experience is necessary (even I can do it!) We’ll also likely have plenty of painting & other stuff to be done, so the more helpers, the better. Just be patient when you arrive, it can take a few minutes for us to find everyone a project.
WHAT TO BRING: Your work gloves, any tools you may want to use, your own beverages and snacks. Also only wear items that you don’t mind getting dirty or paint splattered, because it will likely happen.
FOOD: Jordan’s Time To Eat (next door to Pete’s) will be open for breakfast and lunch on Saturday, so please visit them when you’re hungry. Their food is great! On Sunday the plan is to BBQ so we’ll have food on site. There are also plenty of places in driving distance if you want something else for lunch either day.
FINALLY, remember to clean up after yourself, and don’t enter Pete’s house. There is a Porta-Potty in his front driveway for you to use. Pete has been nice enough to offer his yard, but be respectful of his property & home.
Parade Day Info
We tried to anticipate all your questions about parade day, but we’ve probably missed some things. If you have a question that isn’t answered below, please reply to this email and I’ll get back to you ASAP. I’ll also send out an updated FAQ will be sent out next week to finalize any last minute details for the parade day.
When and where is the parade? The St. Patrick’s Day Parade kicks off at 9:30 AM on Saturday March 11th in downtown Denver.
Where do I go on parade day? You should arrive at our staging area by 8:30 AM. You can enter the staging area at 33rd & Blake. We are Unit 1-12, and our staging address is “Large Entry.” A Parade Information sheet was emailed to you with our parade day info. This is a great document to print & bring with you on parade day. If you didn’t receive it, please email me at for more info.
Where do I park my car? Participants can park in the Coors Field Parking Structure on a first-come, first-served basis. Enter this parking garage at 27th and Blake. The garage will open at 7:00 AM, and will be closed at 9:00 AM. No cars will be allowed in after 9:00 AM. There is no fee to park here. Because it can be very busy on parade day, we recommend arriving early, carpooling, or using public transportation.
How should I dress for the parade? Our theme is “There’s No Place Like Margaritaville” and we want everyone to dress in Wizard of Oz themed costumes! That means we want to see some Dorothy’s, Scarecrows, Tin Men (or women), Cowardly Lions, Munchkins, Witches (wicked & good), Flying Monkeys, etc. There are dozens of options for costumes in this theme, so get creative. Feel free to add a little touch of Parrot Head as well, but remember to get into the spirit of Oz!
What are the parade rules? You can read all the Denver St. Patrick’s Day Parade rules by clicking here. It’s a good idea for all participants to read all the rules. In our previous years, the most important reminders we feel you need are that you should not THROW anything into the crowd. It’s also important to know that while alcohol is technically not allowed, nobody will be inspecting what is in your unmarked cup… if you know what I mean. Just be responsible and act like a grown up. Bottom line, no throwing stuff and behave.
Who can participate? Active CPHC members will be given wristbands for parade day. Only individuals with wristbands can participate in the parade. If you haven’t already paid your dues or gotten your wristband, please see me or Chris during the build this weekend to pay your membership, and/or get your wristbands. We will not be taking membership payments or distributing wristbands on parade day.
What about guests? We are not selling extra wristbands for guests, so you only get what you’re allotted based on your membership. However if you want to bring a guest with one of your wristbands, that is fine under two very important conditions:
- You are totally responsible for them and their behavior. Keep them in line before, during and after the parade. If you can’t do that, don’t bring them.
- Guests still need to dress in costume if they will be marching with our club. Help them get in the spirit of Oz/Margaritaville!
What do I bring on parade day? Yourself, your wristband, your ID (if you plan on drinking), and some cash to tip our hardworking volunteer truck driver. That is all. Do not bring anything you can’t carry during the parade, because we won’t have room to haul everyone’s stuff on the float. Bring only what you need.
Are we doing any hand-outs for the crowd? The club has ordered some emerald green beads to hand out, but it won’t be enough for the full route. We would like volunteers to bring additional beads and/or candy for handouts. We have a pilot truck this year that can carry this stuff for us, so you’ll have a place to drop it off when you arrive. Remember: YOU CANNOT THROW ANYTHING – PERIOD. You may hand items to the crowd but absolutely NO THROWING. This will cause us to be disqualified.
Will we have beer/drinks/jello shots on parade day? Who do you think we are? Of COURSE we will! We will be serving beer, margaritas and rum punch both before and after the parade. We will not serve on the parade route, so plan accordingly. Members are encouraged to bring/share Jello shots. REMEMBER: Do not share any of your beverages or jello-shots with anyone that isn’t a member. This is a no-no. Also it should go without saying, but drink responsibly. This is a family event – so save your heavy drinking for the after party.
Will there be food available at the staging area? No, so please have a good breakfast before you come. We suggest checking out the Irish Breakfast as The Fainting Goat! The Goat will be serving breakfast beginning at 7:00 AM. You can even enjoy it with an adult drink, because you can’t drink all day if you don’t start in the morning!
Are kids welcome? Yes, of course! Kids over the age of 5 can march in the parade. Kids under 5 cannot march, so they will need to be in strollers, wagons, etc.
Can I ride on the float? We have very limited space on the float this year, so we are making it available only for members who need to ride due to a physical condition. If you need to ride on the float, please reply to this email to let me know ASAP. Otherwise, if you’re healthy enough to walk, you should plan on walking.
Do you need volunteers on parade day? YES! We will need 2-3 people to help check IDs and stamp hands for people who will be drinking. We will also need help with many finishing touches on parade day. If you can help out or come early, let me know. We also need someone to wear the Parrot costume during the parade. (See note down below in this email for more info)
What do I need to be aware of during the parade? First and foremost, watch out for the truck and trailer, especially when they’re taking a turn. Please keep a safe distance. Also watch out for your fellow Parrot Heads and let Dave, Jeff, or someone on the float know immediately if you see anyone in distress, or who may have had a little too much of the grog. One drunken Parrot Head can ruin the fun for everyone, so keep an eye out for each other.
Where are we meeting after the parade? We will be drinking in the parking lot for a while after the parade, but then the party will move to The Fainting Goat. Again this year The Fainting Goat is our float sponsors and will be hosting our parade after-party. We hope that all participants stop by for a pint or two (or more) to thank them for their sponsorship and support! Yes, parking can be limited around there, but there are plenty of metered spaces nearby. Better yet, be safe and smart and take Lyft or Uber.
When are we dismantling the float? Sunday morning 3/12 we’ll be meeting at the build lot to disassemble the boat. We will need a lot of help, since we need to tear down & get everything off the property that day. Please plan on joining us, even if it’s just for an hour or two. Tear down will likely start around 10AM.
Why didn’t you answer my question? You must be way smart, because I didn’t even think of your question. Reply to this email and we’ll answer any concerns that aren’t addressed above.
In Search Of: A Parrot With Attitude!
We are looking for someone to wear the Parrot costume this year. This year our Parrot mascot will be dressed similar to Dorothy, to fit the theme of our float. The ideal volunteer will be spirited, and ready to spend the parade on the float waving and generally hamming it up for spectators. If you are interested, let me know ASAP.
If you cannot walk the parade route…
We have very limited space on the float this year. If you cannot walk the full parade route and need to ride the float, let me know ASAP. I want to make sure we can try to accommodate everyone who needs to ride due to a physical limitation, so I need a count by this weekend so we can plan accordingly.
As promised, some very important information…
I am so proud of you for reading all the way to the end. You are a great Colorado Parrot Head, and I appreciate you! Thanks for all you do to make this event and this club awesome. You’re the best. This is going to be a wonderful parade, and I couldn’t have done it without YOU. So thank you!
That is all. See you this weekend. Fins Up!
Jeff Estes
President, Colorado Parrot Head Club