Hello Parrot Heads!

Are you ready for the 2018 Denver St. Patrick’s Day Parade? You may think you are, but you aren’t truly ready until you read all the news & updates below. There is a lot of info, but please review it all so you are prepared for the parade this Saturday!

Friday: All-Hands Float Build Cancelled

Thanks to all the volunteers who participated in our float building the past 2 weekends, are float is pretty much DONE! Unless you are part of our build and design team or unless you’ve already made plans with me to be there, then please do not come out on Friday to help us finish up. We will only be there a few hours to load the float and finish a few last-minute items, but we have enough people already to get that done.

If you still need wristbands, you can stop by the build location but we’ll likely only be there from 10 AM – 2 PM (at most.) Instead, we will have some wristbands on parade day for all of you procrastinators. Please find Chris Estes when you arrive at the staging area Saturday if you need a wristband. Be sure you also have your photo ID if you plan on drinking.

Do you need to ride the float? If so, READ THIS.

We have a number of individuals who have let me know they need to ride the float this year since they physically cannot walk the entire parade route. We want to make sure you are all accommodated but need a FIRM headcount to confirm we can do that. Please respond to this email or email me at if you are a member who needs to ride. We have a large float, but a somewhat limited amount of rider space. Only individuals who have their name on my list of approved riders will be able to ride the float on parade day. Even if you let me or Chris know previously that you need to ride, and even if we said “no problem,” please respond to this email to remind us again so we can confirm your name is on our list. It’s been a crazy few weeks so we may not have remembered everyone who spoke to us. I need a total count ASAP, but definitely no later than Wednesday, March 14. Once I have our final list I will email you to confirm you are riding and will send additional instructions about how to check-in with us on parade day.

General Parade Day Info & FAQs

When and where is the parade? The St. Patrick’s Day Parade steps off at 9:30 AM on Saturday, March 11th in downtown Denver. Click here for the parade website to get more info and a map of the parade route.

Where do I go on parade day? We stage in the Coors Field Parking lot on parade day. If you are marching with us, you should arrive at our staging area by 8:30 AM on Saturday morning. You can enter the staging area at 33rd & Blake. We will be in Lot A, Unit 1-12. Click here to view our 2018 Parade Line-Up Info Sheet for our entry. Print or bookmark this so you have it on parade day to help you find us.

Where do I park? Finding parking on parade day can be challenging, so we encourage you to carpool or use public transportation, or car services such as Uber, Lyft, etc. There is parking in the Coors Field Parking Structure on a first-come, first-served basis. Enter this parking garage at 27th and Blake. The garage will only be open from 7 AM to 9 AM. Because it can be very busy on parade day, we recommend arriving early.

How should I dress for the parade? Our float theme is a good old-fashioned Irish Pub Crawl, CPHC style! There are no specific costume requirements, however, we want everyone who is marching with us to dress festively for the event. Wear your best Parrothead gear, favorite festive St. Paddy’s Day outfits, or better yet, combine them both! Don’t just put on a green t-shirt and think you’re done… let’s show them how fun and festive the Parrot Heads can be!

What are the parade rules? You can read all the 2018 Denver St. Patrick’s Day Parade rules by clicking here. Please review and familiarize yourself with these rules before parade day. Based on previous years, the items that most need repeating are:

  • Do not throw ANYTHING. You may hand candy and beads to spectators but no throwing is allowed. Doing this can cause us to be disqualified.
  • Do not over-indulge on alcoholic beverages before the parade, and no visible alcohol consumption during the parade. This is a family event; save the hard-partying for afterward.
  • While marching, please move quickly and stay with our parade group. Do not hold up the participants behind us.

Who can participate? Active CPHC members who have wristbands can march with us. Those with a wristband 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’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 they fall out of line, that will reflect on you.
  • Guests still need to dress up for the event same as members if they will be marching with our club. Help them get properly decked-out for the occasion!

What if I haven’t joined/renewed/gotten a wristband? If you still need to join or renew, do it now. You will need to be a paid member no later than midnight on Thursday, March 15 if you want to participate in the parade. If you haven’t gotten your wristband, you can stop by our build site (see emailed newsletter for address) between 10 AM and 2 PM on Friday, March 16. Otherwise, please find Chris Estes when you arrive at the staging area. Be patient, she will be very busy, so you may have to wait.

What does the wristband get me? It allows you to march with our group in the parade. It also means you can enjoy some of our pre- and post-parade adult beverages, assuming you’re over 21. We will check IDs and give you a hand-stamp that will let you have drinks. Water will also be available.

What essentials should I bring on parade day? Yourself, your wristband, your ID, and some cash. The cash is to tip our hardworking volunteer truck driver, who donates his time (unpaid) to haul our float. That is all you really need to bring, and please only bring what you need. We will not have space on the float to carry everyone’s extra stuff.

Are we doing any hand-outs for the crowd? The club has ordered some green 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. 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. Bring your own bag or bucket to carry your handouts, if desired. Remember: YOU CANNOT THROW ANYTHING – all items must be handed to the spectators. Failure to follow this rule will cause us to be disqualified.

Will we have beer/drinks/jello shots on parade day? Yes, of course… we are Parrot Heads, aren’t we? We will have beer, margaritas and rum punch available to members with wristbands and hand-stamps both before and after the parade. We will start pouring in the staging area once the float is all ready-to-go, probably around 9 AM. We will not offer refills during the parade route, period. As a rule, alcohol consumption is not allowed during the parade. That being said, nobody will be checking what is in your solo cup if you don’t give them a reason to do so, so you are fine to get a refill before we go – just not during the parade. Members are encouraged to bring and share Jello shots, but DO NOT give them to parade spectators or to individuals outside our group.

Will there be food available at the staging area? No, so please have a good breakfast before you come. In fact, The Fainting Goat will be offering a full Irish Breakfast again this year beginning at 7:00 AM. Come down early and stop there for a proper meal before the parade!

Can I ride on the float? See our note on this above. We have space for people who need to ride, but we need to know now if that may be you. If you’re able to walk, we appreciate you walking to make space for those who need to ride.

Are kids welcome? Yes, of course! Kids over the age of 5 can walk with us in the parade. Kids under 5 cannot march, so they will 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 lots of finishing touches to be done in the staging area, so come early and ask to help out and we will 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’re taking a turn. Keep a safe distance. Also, watch out for your fellow Parrot Heads and let me or one of our bartenders in the back of the float know if you see anyone in distress, or who may have indulged too much. 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 ( 846 Broadway, Denver, CO 80203) The Fainting Goat is our float sponsor again this year, so stop by for for some drinks, food, and 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.

What happens to the float when this is all over? Sadly, our incredible float was built for just a one-time use. We will be tearing it down the day after the parade. Some items, like the awesome signs & artwork, may be saved for future raffles. However, if you really love our float and want to make an offer on a pub panel or two, let me know before Sunday when we tear it apart. You’ll need to arrange transportation, but we’d happily let you own a bit of our float for a donation if you are so inclined!

When are we dismantling the float? Sunday morning, March 18, we’ll be meeting at the build location 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 begin at 9:00 AM.

Questions & Parade-Day Contacts

If you have questions before parade day and we didn’t already answer it above, please email . We monitor this email daily and will get back to you.

On Parade Day, if we have any changes, news or announcements to get out to our club we will post them on our Facebook page at facebook.com/coloradoparrotheadclub/ so follow us there for the latest news.

If you have a question on parade day, you can also call or text Jeff Estes; his mobile number is in the email version of this newsletter.

Thanks in advance for a great parade day!

This year we are sure to have an epic St. Patrick’s Day Parade! Our float is awesome, the weather looks like it may be nice, and the parade is being held on the actual holiday! I cannot wait to enjoy the day with all of you as we take our crazy Parrot Head pub crawl down the streets of Denver! In case I don’t get to personally thank you on parade day for your participation, let me say it now: THANK YOU. This is the best group, and we always have the best times together.

Cheers!

Jeff Estes
President, Colorado Parrot Head Club