Special Announcements for the

23rd Annual Lawrence St. Patrick's Day Parade!

Press release February 16, 2010

There are several special announcements regarding this year’s Parade activities.

The Lawrence St. Patrick’s Day Parade is in its 23rd year and to date fundraising efforts of the committee have provided more than $527,000 to local charities with the focus being on the young people of our community. The organizations we are funding this year are Women’s Transitional Care Services, Douglas County CASA, Family Promise, VanGo, and The Lawrence Humane Society. These organizations reach out to many of our community’s children and they deserve our support and our appreciation.

Special events are happening over the next several days to raise funds for these five charities; we hope everyone will find a way to share in the fun and in the spirit of giving that our activities represent. Our goal this year is to exceed $50,000. We need the support of the community to achieve that goal.

The committee will be hosting a premier event, Saturday February 27th, its Annual Charity Benefit Auction at Corpus Christi Church, located at 6001 Bob Billings Parkway in Lawrence. It’s going to be on a gym floor so; we encourage everyone to wear tennis shoes, no heels! Items this year include 4 tickets to the NASCAR race on October 3rd at the Kansas Speedway, a Willie Mays autographed baseball, a dinner and with Scot Pollard, art work, jewelry, and items direct from Ireland; the list of items continues growing. Doors will open at 5:30PM for viewing auction items; silent bidding will begin at 6PM. The live auction will begin at 7PM. The Master of Ceremonies will be the unmistakable Voice of Lawrence, Mr. Hank Booth, assisted by notable radio personality Chris Merrill of Merrill in the Morning. Auctioneers will be Mark Elston and Jason Flory. Catering will be by Maceli’s. Our thanks go out to our auction coordinators, Deb Drummet, Brenda Brown, and Ellen Kimmel.

Upcoming events include Bowling at Royal Crest Lanes Saturday February 20th at Noon, a Trivia Tournament at The Eagle’s Lodge, 7PM on Sunday February 21st. Two T-shirt Pub Crawls will be on Friday evenings of February 19th and Friday March 5th. The 5K Shamrock Shuffle Fun Run/Walk will be at 8 AM the morning of Saturday March 6th. Because of construction, this year, the 5K Run will start at the Flamingo Club, 501 N. 9th, then onto the river levee and back, concluding with a traditional Irish breakfast. The Luck-of-the-Irish Motorcycle Rally rolls out at Noon on March 13th from the Slow Ride Roadhouse it will follow a new route this year and end at the Jet Lag Lounge.

In addition to events, we are announcing some very special people who will take part in the St. Patrick's Day Parade on Wednesday March 17th. This year’s Grand Marshal, a good friend of Lawrence, an active volunteer, and retired after 32 years of service as a Captain with Lawrence Law Enforcement, Mr. Dan Affalter. Also, two very special members of our community will be our 2010 Senior King and Queen, Luther and Evelyn Kelly.

Miss Kansas, the Lawrence St. Patrick’s Day Queen’s Court, and a host of pageantry will make the parade spectacular. The parade will begin from South Park at 1:00PM travel through Downtown, across the river and through North Lawrence, there may be some adjustment to the usual route because of construction at Locust Street so, we will make announcements closer to the date of the parade as information becomes available.

We also want to recognize the passing this past year of two long time supporters of the Lawrence St. Patrick’s Day Parade that of Joy Weatherwax Pattin, last year’s Senior Queen and Susan “Susie” Fuller who was active in the Luck-of-the-Irish Motorcycle Rally.

The committee wants as many people to participate in the parade as possible. Applications will be accepted until Wednesday, March 3rd but to assure a place in the lineup sign up early.

A list of auction items, details for all events, applications for the Parade, and the 5K Shamrock Shuffle, as well as other information is available online at:

http://lawrencestpatricksdayparade.com

Applications may also be obtained at Cottin’s Hardware on Massachusetts St. or at McDonald Chiropractic at 23rd and Haskell in Lawrence.

Additionally, 5K Shamrock Shuffle forms are available at most of the sport shops and athletic clubs around town.

Further information and reservations are available by calling 749-6677. Or by email at info@lawrencestpatricksdayparade.com

Thank you,
Roger Browning, Chair
St. Patrick’s Day Parade of Lawrence

 

For information please call 749-6677,

email: info@lawrencestpatricksdayparade.com,

or visit our website at http://www.lawrencestpatricksdayparade.com.