The annual Rowan St. Pat’s Day Parade will take place this year. As usual the parade begins at the Rowan Events Center, 901 Broadway St., at 1 p.m. this Saturday, March 20 and will end on Main Street.
“The luck of the Irish may have failed last March because of Covid-19,” said Lennea Groom, parade organizer, “But we just can’t stand losing it two years in a row. Besides, most of the fun is the parade itself, and we can do this parade responsibly.”
As usual, Rowan’s most prominent (maybe only?) Irishman, Mike Thompson, will lead the parade. It was Thompson who started the parade years ago. Since then, the event grew to include local dignitaries, business, floats, and the sales of food and t-shirts which benefitted the Rowan Improvement Foundation (RIF).
Groom said no fundraising is planned this year. No fee will be asked of entrants or observers. The parade will be just for fun. “If someone wants to support the RIF, we will gladly receive contributions,” she added. “Everyone is invited to take part. So grab your greenest mask and join us.”
In the spirit of St. Patrick’s Day and in recognition of our continued social restrictions, the RIF added a creative mask contest. Create a homemade mask with a St. Patrick’s theme and take a photo of yourself wearing the mask and post it to either the Rowan Improvement Day or Iowa River Players FB page to enter the contest. The mask with the most “Likes” by noon on Friday, March 19 will be the winner.
The winner will receive two tickets to the first play of the season when the Iowa River Theater reopens and a $20 gift certificate to the Creme de la Creme in Dows. The winner is also invited to walk in the parade with Rowan’s Leprechaun, Mike Thompson. All contestants who enter and participate in the parade will receive a certificate for a free ice cream cone at the Creme de la Creme in Dows.
Those wanting more information about joining the parade should contact Groom at lennea.groom@gmail.com or by calling her at 515-293-1657.
