Quad-Cities’ St. Patrick’s Day Grand Parade Postponed to Aug. 28, Other March St. Pat’s Events Are On

The St. Patrick Society of the Quad Cities has decided to postpone the planned 35^th-annual Grand Parade from March 13 to Saturday, Aug.

A past St. Patrick’s Day Grand Parade in downtown Davenport.

28, after working with the state of Illinois and the cities of Rock Island and Davenport. They’re calling the rescheduled bi-state event Grand Parade XXXV.2.

“Disappointing as it was to postpone the march on our traditional Saturday in March, we had to consider many factors in reaching our decision. It was not made lightly,” the Society posted on its website, www.stpatsqc.com.

“The uncertainty at the time regarding the status of the pandemic, and with concern for our parade participants and all of the businesses along the parade route, we felt it best to postpone,” the nonprofit group said.

“Many, many hours of labor and dollars go into the building of parade floats and thousands of dollars are invested by local bars and restaurants to celebrate parade day, let alone the months

The last Q-C Grand Parade was held in March 2019.

of work and expense incurred by the SPS to make the Grand Parade happen.

“All of those efforts and expenditures went for naught two days short of our 2020 date. We did not want to repeat that again in 2021,” the Society said. “The months ahead will reveal how we are progressing in the fight against Covid. We should have a pretty clear picture by August and if we’re in the clear we’re gonna have a parade on August 28, “St. Vacctrick’s Day!”

On Tuesday, the downtown Davenport restaurant Me & Billy announced they will donate a portion of sales from the next three weeks to the St. Patrick Society to help keep the Grand Parade tradition alive.

The Grand Parade (last held in 2019) is the only bi-state St. Patrick’s Day Parade in the U.S., and is viewed by tens of thousands of people along the route from Rock Island, across the Mississippi River through Davenport.

The St. Patrick’s Society is calling the Aug. 28 event Grand Parade XXXV.2.

On March 11, 2020, days before last year’s 35^th-annual parade, the St. Patrick Society announced it would cancel due to concerns over the coronavirus.

“We pledged that should we hear from experts that the Parade should not be held, we would follow that recommendation. We did indeed this evening receive the recommendation from a county health administrator that the Parade be cancelled,” they said last year.

The Society is a nonprofit organization that contributes to many charities, awards scholarships, and

The annual CASI St. Patrick’s race also is postponed to Aug. 28.

promotes various Irish cultural and musical events that occur throughout the year in the Quad-City area.

In 2019, the Grand Parade teamed with River Bend Foodbank to fight hunger in the Quad-Cities. During the Grand Parade, River Bend collected $2,710 from very generous spectators along the parade route. That provided 13,000 meals in the fight against hunger in Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois.

The Center for Active Seniors in Davenport also announced it is postponing its 39^th-annual St. Patrick’s Day Race to the same day — August 28th in downtown Davenport. “Same race route, same fun event, better weather,” the event Facebook page says. “We are thrilled to be planning for this special event with the peace of mind of knowing all will be safe.”

Kavanaugh’s Hilltop Bar & Grill, 1228 30^th St., Rock Island, is going ahead with a scaled-back St. Patrick’s Day party on Saturday, March 13, starting at 3 p.m.

Their Facebook page says: “Doing a downscale St Paddy’s party but wanted to do something!! We may only be able to have 50% of our people

Kavanaugh’s Hilltop Bar & Grill is having a St. Paddy’s party Saturday, March 13.

but Blues Rock-it is going to bring the FULL party. After they finish up, DJCAM will keep the party going as long as you want!”

Other St. Patrick’s Day-themed events planned in the Q-C include:

Friday, March 12, and Saturday, March 13 – Mississippi Valley Fair, 2815 W. Locust St., Davenport. New this year at the free St. Patrick’s Day fest includes a parade on the grounds on Saturday and kids’ activities in the Iowa Building.

Jumpin Joey’s will have bounce houses; there will be free kids’ karaoke stage from noon-2:30 p.m. both days, and the Fair Center will feature bands on Friday from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m.

On Saturday, doors open at 11 a.m. and the entertainment lineup (through 1 a.m.) will be — Doug Brundies, North Of 40, Flying Leprechauns, Electric Shock, Casey Muessigmann, Tomb and Project X. The parade lineup will be 10 a.m. March 13 at the West High School parking lot (3505 West Locust St.). The parade will start at 11 and there is no charge to enter the parade. Call Kelly at the fair office to register, 563-326-5338. Deadline to enter is March 10.

Saturday, March 13, starting at noon — Off Point Pub, 2025 Hickory Grove Road, Davenport. MD Moncada & Levi Craft acoustic show will start at 1 p.m.; Karl & Ko Acoustic from 8 to 11 p.m. $4 Corned Beef, Cabbage & Irish Soda Bread will start at 1! $4 Breakfast Shot, $3.50 Jameson & $5 Irish Car Bomb, plus giveaways all day.
Saturday, March 13, 9 p. to 1 a.m. — Cal Stage Band St. Paddy’s Day Bash at Gypsy Highway, 2606 W. Locust St., Davenport.
Saturday, March 20, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. – McGrath Quad Cities Harley-Davidson, 5320 Corporate Park Drive, Davenport. Celebrate the day with complimentary food and green beer until gone, games, and prize drawings.

Jonathan Turner

Jonathan Turner has been covering the Quad-Cities arts scene for 25 years, first as a reporter with the Dispatch and Rock Island Argus, and then as a reporter with the Quad City Times. Jonathan is also an accomplished actor and musician who has been seen frequently on local theater stages, including the Bucktown Revue and Black Box Theatre.

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