St Patrick’s Parade Edition
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Staging and General Information:
Organization Name: Colorado Parrot Head Club –
2018 Best of Parade Award
Unit number: 1-21
Staging time and location: First Group 8:30am, Lot A
Note:
Lots “A” and “B” at Coors Field will be used for staging only. No vehicles will be allowed in either lot unless they are to be in the parade; you cannot drive into lot “A” or lot “B” to drop off participants. If you are walking or marching in the parade, you must park elsewhere and walk into the staging area. The parking garage at 27th & Blake will be open from 7:00 AM until 9:00 AM.
Where to go on Parade Day?
Our staging area is in the Coors Field Parking lot A. If you are marching with us, please be at the float by 8:30amon Saturday morning. You can enter the staging area at 33rd and Blake. There is NO PARKING in the staging area. We are in the first group.
If you don’t already have your wrist bands, we will be handing them out before the parade. Please get them from Susan or Karen as soon as you get there.
Where do I park on Parade Day?
Finding parking can be challenging, so we encourage you to carpool, take Uber or Lyft, or take the light rail if you can. There is parking in the Coors Field Parking Garage, on a first-come, first-serve basis. Enter this parking garage at 27th and Blake. The garage will only be open from 7am to 9am. It will be VERY busy on parade day.. so we recommend you arrive early.
How should I dress for the parade?
Our Float theme is “The Irish Are Back.” We’ll have O’Hana’s tiki bar (Ohana in Hawaiian is Family) and the usual Parrothead pizzaz to the float. There are no specific costume requirements, however we do want everyone marching with us to be festive. So, please dress up in a creative Irish Parrothead outfit! This can be your favorite St Patrick’s outfits, or wear your best Parrot Head gear… or combine them both! Whatever you do.. please don’t put on a green t-shirt and think you’re done. We want everyone to see how fun and festive the Colorado Parrot Heads can be!!
UPDATE: LATEST UPDATE FROM DENVER ST PATRICK’S DAY COMMITTEE:
We have been asked to forward this information to all participants.
The Denver Police Department has requested that firearms not be discharged. This primarily a concern with some groups firing blanks. In today’s world these actions may be misinterpreted as an active shooter. Groups firing in unison could sound like an explosion. Either of these actions could cause a panic or a delay in the parade while police officials investigate. Thank you for your cooperation.
Also, We have been informed that Blake will be closing Saturday going Northeast, from 31st to 33rd. Southwest traffic approaching 33rd will not be affected.
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Participant Rules:
You may read all the rules here: http://https://www.denverstpatricksdayparade.com/parade-rules
Please review and familiarize yourself with all the rules before parade day. Based on prior years, the items that most need repeating are:
1) DO NOT throw ANYTHING! You may hand candy and beads to spectators but no THROWING is allowed. Doing this will get us disqualified. We had some people in our group at the last parade, throwing beads into the crowd, PLEASE do NOT do that again this year. I’m not sure if anyone noticed.. but the float behind ours a couple of years ago, was pulled out of the lineup because they were throwing candy into the crowd.
2) DO NOT over-indulge on alcoholic beverages before the parade, and no visible alcohol along the parade route. This is a family event, so save the hard partying for after the parade. (and remember.. there are no bathrooms along the way!). No public indecency tolerated. No smoking. Remember, this is a family friendly event. Sadly, I have to remind everyone of this rule, because we had some folks pouring themselves a Vodka cocktail along the parade route at the last parade. Please, wait until the end.. it’s not that long of a parade!
3) While marching, please move quickly and stay with our group. Do not hold up the participants behind us.
Who can Participate?
Any active CPHC members who have wristbands can march with us. We will also be giving out a hand stamp on the day of the parade for those who are drinking… after we check IDs. Anyone with a wrist band and a hand stamp can participate in our pre and post parade adult beverages.
What about guests?
We are not selling extra wristbands for guests, so you only get what you are allotted based on your membership. If you want to bring a guest on one of your allotted wristbands, remember 2 VERY important conditions:
1) You are totally responsible for them and their behavior. Keep them in line before, during and after the parade. If they fall out of line, that will reflect on you.
2) Guests still need to dress up for the event same as members if they will be marching with our club. Help them get properly “decorated” and decked out for the occasion.
What if I haven’t joined/renewed/gotten a wristband?
If you still need to join or renew, do so now. You will need to be a paid member no later than midnight on Thursday, March 11, 2022 if you want to participate in the parade with us. If you haven’t gotten your wristband, we will have them available on Friday between 9am and 2pm at the site of the float build (5461 Marshall Street, Arvada). Otherwise, please find Susan Eckman or Karen Bell when you arrive at the staging area. Please pick up your wrist bands as soon as you get there, we won’t be handing them out past 9am.
What does the wristband get me?
It allows you to march in the parade with our group. It also means you can enjoy some of our pre and post parade adult beverages… assuming you are 21 or older. We will check IDs and give you a hand stamp. The wristband and hand stamp will tell our volunteer servers that you may have drinks. We will have water available as well.
What essentials should I bring on parade day?
Yourself, your wristband, your ID and cash, just in case. That is all you really need to bring. Please only bring what you NEED, because we will not have space on the float to carry everyone’s extra stuff. If it gets warm, we will not haul your coats, jackets, hats, gloves, etc on the float. We cannot haul your extra candy, extra beads, etc. on the float either. Please plan on bringing a backpack, bag or wagon to carry your own items in. It looks terrible when we’ve had people leave their coats on the float because they don’t want to carry them.
Handouts for the crowd?
The club has purchased some beads to hand out, but it won’t be enough for the full route. As always, we appreciate volunteers who wish to bring additional beads or wrapped candy to hand out. Bring your own bag or bucket to carry your handouts. Remember – YOU CANNOT THROW ANYTHING!! All items must be handed to the spectators. Failure to follow this rule will cause us to be disqualified and we will be forced to leave the parade.
Will we have beer/drinks/jello shots on parade day?
Of course we will! We will have beer, rum punch and margaritas available to members with wristbands AND a hand stamp. Both will be required in order to partake in the adult beverages before and after the parade. We will start pouring in the staging area once the float is ready to go… probably around 9:00. We will not offer refills during the parade route. No exceptions. As a rule, alcohol consumption is NOT allowed during the parade. That being said, no one will check what is in your Red Solo Cup, if you don’t give them reason to, so get a refill before you start marching. Members are encouraged to bring and share Jello-Shots, but DO NOT give them to ANY parade spectators or to individuals outside our group.
Will there be food available at the staging area?
No, we will not have food available, so please eat a good breakfast before you come.
Can I ride the float?
We have a smaller float this year, plus the Denver Fire Department wants a very sturdy rail around the float. I have asked the question for several weeks, and have only had 1 request to ride on the float, so we have decided not to build this sturdy rail. The tiki bar is the only place we will have riders. Therefore, we will have no additional spots for riding on the float.
Are kids welcome?
Yes! Kids over the age of 5 can walk with us in the parade. Kids under 5 cannot march, so they need to be in strollers, wagons, etc. There will not be children allowed on the float.
Do you need volunteers on Parade Day?
Always! We will have a lot of finishing touches to be done in the staging area, so come early and ask to help out. We’ll let you know what help is needed.
What do I need to be aware of during the parade?
First and foremost.. watch out for the truck and trailer, especially when they are making a turn. Keep a safe distance. Also, watch out for fellow Parrot Heads and let myself, Karen, Susan or one of the bartenders on the float know if you see anyone in distress, or someone who may have over indulged too much. 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?
We will be drinking in the parking lot for a while after the parade, but then the party moves to Hopper’s Sports Bar (Same place as our monthly meetings in Wheat Ridge). They will have Happy Hour drink specials all day after the parade! The folks at Hopper’s have been great to us, sponsoring our float and giving us a place for our monthly meetings, so please stop by after the parade to show them our appreciation for their continued sponsorship and support. (This is starting to sound more and more like an Uber or Lyft kind of day!!)
What happens when this is all over?
As always, our float is built for just a one time use. It’s sad.. I know. We will be tearing it down on Sunday, March 13. If there is any part to the float you’d like to keep, let us know before Sunday and we’d be happy to take a donation for the piece you’d like to keep (we will not be selling the palm trees again this year, the palm fronds are too hard to find). We will be dismantling the float on March 13, in the build location (5461 Marshall St, Arvada). We need some help to tear down and get everything off the property that day, so we can get the trailer back to its owner. Please join us for the tear down, beginning at 9am. It usually only takes a couple of hours.
Questions?
If you have questions on anything or think of something I haven’t covered, please email [email protected].
Please always follow the parade marshals’ instructions. If you have questions while in the staging area, ask a Marshal. They’ll be wearing a green jacket with logo.
No drones allowed. Photographers are allowed on sidewalks.
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Judging will once again, be by the public:
The Irish are Back! You be the Judge! This is the theme for the electronic voting for our parade participants. Ask your friends and family to vote for our float and we may be the 2022 Denver St. Patrick’s Day Parade Favorite Float winner! Judging is by the public. They must vote from a link on the Denver St Patrick’s Day Website:
https://dspdp.memberclicks.net
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Float Build this Friday at Pete’s!!
The theme for this year is “The Irish Are Back.” As always, we will do the theme with Parrothead Pizzaz, so get creative with your Parrothead/Irish costumes.
We’ll build our tiki bar and decorate the float Parrothead Style!!
One new thing this year, is the Denver Fire Department doing a safety check in the staging area. They will check generator safety and check for a safe railing on floats that have people riding on them. They are requiring a strong railing on the float if people are going to ride on it.
Since I’ve only had 1 person request a ride on the float, outside the tiki bar, we will not be building a sturdy railing around the float.
Start collecting beads and candy to hand out during the parade! Get those Jell-O shots ready for parade morning!
Slàinte!
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Annual Registration time!!!
Please renew your membership so you can join us for all the fun events, like the parade, this year!
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Misc. Housekeeping: Now is a great time to update your mailing address, email addresses and phone numbers with the club, if you have moved within the past few years, please send me your current information, so I can update the roster.
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Fins up!
Parrot Head President, Pete!