11 Days until the Denver St. Patrick’s Day Parade!
The 2016 Denver St. Patrick’s Day Parade is quickly approaching! I know you all have a lot of questions about parade day, so I wanted to send this special edition newsletter out so you have all the latest info about parade day. It’s a lot of info, but please take a few minutes to read through all the details below so you’re prepared. Below I have a float update, along with some Parade Day FAQs that should answer all your parade questions. If you still have questions once you read this all over, please let me know.
Float Update
We made a lot of great progress on the float last weekend. The dozens of “critters” Jill made are awesome, and thanks to lots of painters they are really coming to life! Our fantastic team of builders got the tiki wagon up, and things are coming along. There was one change I made to the design. Building a huge pot of gold that met our structural needs and aesthetic desires proved pretty tough. Instead of one huge pot of gold, a suggestion was made to use a smaller (though still quite large) pot and build a structure around it, so I made the executive decision to make this change. Pete graciously offered up a great pot, which will now be nestled in an Irish landscape of green hills and cliffs. This will help us have the space we need for our crew, while adding a bit more “Irish” to the float. Oh, and for everyone who has been saying a pot of gold needs a rainbow, we may have you covered, too. Come help us build this weekend if you want to see the progress and lend a hand. I sincerely appreciate everyone’s help and believe we’ll have a really great float.
Float Items Still Needed
We are on the lookout for two wagon wheels if anyone has some we can borrow for the parade. We also need a considerable length of green artificial grass type carpeting for our landscape, so if you have any we can take off your hands, or if you know where we can get some for cheap (or better yet, free) please contact me ASAP. If you have any suggestions for either items please reach out to me at [email protected].
Parade Day FAQs
The info below should answer any questions you have about this year’s parade. If I don’t manage to answer your question, please contact me at [email protected].
When & where is the parade? The 2016 Denver St. Patrick’s Day Parade kicks off at 9:30 AM on Saturday March 12th in downtown Denver.
Where do I go on parade day? We stage in the parking lot at Coors Field. You can enter the staging area at 33rd & Blake. We are Unit 1-15, and our staging address is “Large Entry.” Please be at the staging area by 8:30 AM. Because of the success of our float last year, we are kicking off earlier than ever so please arrive on time. We are hoping to get the trailer in the lot even earlier than 8:30 AM, and will need volunteers to arrive early to help us finish setting up. Once we confirm the time we can arrive, we will let you know. Please understand, our primary goal is being ready to step off – so no alcohol will be served until all the float finishing work is complete.
Where do I park? Once again this year, parade participants are welcome to park at the Coors Field parking garage at 27th and Blake. The garage opens at 7:00 AM and closes as 9:00 AM, or earlier if it gets full. You will be asked for our participant info if you park in the garage so please have this information handy. You can also click here to view and print out the Parade Lineup Sheet and take this info with you.
Float Entry Name: Colorado Parrot Head Club
Unit Number: 1-15
Staging Time: 8:30 AM
Staging Address: Large Entry
Who can participate in the parade? Only active and paid members & their family can participate in the parade. All participants must have a wristband. If you still need to pay your dues or get your wristbands, you can do this at the float builds this Saturday or Sunday. We’ll be at Pete’s house (5461 Marshall St, Arvada) from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM each day. If necessary, we may add an additional wristband pickup day next week, however we will not be taking membership payments or issuing wristbands on parade day. If you know you won’t be able to pick up your wristband before parade day, please email me so we can work something out.
How should I dress for the parade? Our theme is “What the Phlock?!” and our float will feature a covered wagon and a stampede of Parrot Head and western inspired critters, all stampeding towards our pot of gold! While we have a full menagerie of critters, most of them are flamingos, so flamingo costumes and attire is encouraged. You can also just wear your finest Parrot Head attire, and maybe add a touch of western flair! How you dress is open to your interpretation but PLEASE dress like you’re a member of the Colorado Parrot Head Club. We want everyone in fun and festive costumes, not just your best green t-shirt. Get wild, western and tropical and let your feathers fly!
What must 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.
What should I leave home on parade day? Anything you can’t carry – 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 purchased leis to hand out to the crowd, but we don’t have enough for the whole route. If you would like to bring leis that would be much appreciated! You can get plastic leis in bulk at local party stores or Oriental Trading for fairly cheap. If you want to bring candy or beads to hand out instead, that’s fine, but you must be prepared to carry it as we won’t have a tub to put it in on the float. Please also remember YOU CANNOT THROW ANYTHING – PERIOD. You may hand items to the crowd but absolutely NO THROWING. Throwing items into the crowd will cause us to be disqualified.
Will we have beer/drinks/jello shots on parade day? Of COURSE we will! We will serve before the parade, once the finishing details are all done on the float. We will also serve after the parade, so we can celebrate another successful parade year! However, we will not be serving or refilling drinks during the parade. Why not? Well, it’s technically against the rules, and also, it’s just not safe to refill from the float while it’s moving.
Also please do not share your beverages with anyone that doesn’t have a wristband or hand stamp. If we see this, we’ll cut you off. That also means, DO NOT share drinks or jello shots with anyone in the crowd – EVER. Finally, please drink responsibly. This is a family event and if you over-indulge and are intoxicated during the parade you can get us disqualified, not to mention the trouble you could get yourself in. So please, save your heavy drinking for the after party.
Are kids welcome? Yes, kids are welcome! If your kiddo is over the age of 5 they can march in the parade. Kids under 5 cannot march, so they will need to be in strollers, wagons, etc.
Do you need volunteers? YES! We still need volunteers to carry the club banner – ideally 4, so you can switch off during the parade, and we need at least 2 volunteers to help check IDs and stamp hands. As previously mentioned, we’ll have a lot of final decorating touches to get done on parade day morning, so staging area volunteers would be appreciated. If you can help us out with any of the above, please email & let me know.
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 Fainting Goat will be serving breakfast beginning at 7:00 AM. Fuel up and get yourself ready for a long day of fun and drinking!
Can I ride on the float? There is limited room on the float this year. We will make standing room available for members who need to ride because they have a physical limitation that will prevent them from walking the entire route. If you need to ride because you can’t walk the route, please email me at [email protected] to let me know immediately. Otherwise, if you’re healthy enough to walk, plan on walking
What do I need to be aware of during the parade? Please click here to review the Parade Day Rules document so you can make certain you don’t inadvertently break any rules. In addition, please watch out for the truck and trailer as it’s moving, and keep a safe distance, especially when they are making a turn. Finally, watch out for your fellow Parrot Heads and let me or someone on the float know immediately if you see anyone in distress, or who may have had a little too much to drink. One drunken Parrot Head can ruin the fun for everyone, so please keep an eye out for each other.
Where are we meeting after the parade? The Fainting Goat (846 Broadway, Denver, CO 80203) sponsored our float again this year and is once again hosting our official after-party. Please plan on stopping by for food and a pint (or several) to thank them, and to hang out with your fellow Parrot Heads! There is metered parking all around The Fainting Goat, but we encourage a car service (like Uber or Lyft) to get there and home safely.
When are we dismantling the float? Sunday morning 3/13 we’ll be meeting at Pete’s house to disassemble the float at 10:00 AM. Come on by to help us out.
Download parade documents:
Click to view/print the Parade Day Rules
Click to view/print the Parade Day Lineup Sheet
If you’re still reading, thanks! I know that was a long one. Let me know if you have any questions.
Cheers!
Jeff Estes
President, Colorado Parrot Head Club
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