Parade History

Parade Founder Mickey Finn tells the story of how Snake Saturday came to life in 1983. The concept started as a promotion for Rodeway Inn, with four floats, a Grand Marshal and co-founder, Bill Grigsby. It was cold outside, only about ten degrees. The parade took place in the motel parking lot, allowing people to view from their hotel rooms and the coffee shop.
Parade Founder Mickey Finn and co-founder Bill Grigsby

Parade Founder Mickey Finn and co-founder Bill Grigsby

And what would a parade be without a winner of Best of Parade? A young lady on the back of a Harley Davidson motorcycle wearing a bright green bikini took home the honor. After the parade, the North Kansas City mayor turned to Mickey Finn and said, “We might as well take it to the street next year.” And as they say, “the rest is history”. The parade has celebrated every year since, regardless of weather conditions and always on the Saturday before St. Patrick’s Day.

As the Snake Saturday Parade & Festival became the largest family fun Irish celebration in the area, it also generated an enormous amount of exposure and charitable donations benefiting local non-profit organizations. The process started after non-profit businesses were invited to build floats and compete for prize money. The response was overwhelming and community involvement soared to new heights. Snake Saturday Parade & Festival awards cash prizes to from 50 –100 local charities, approximately 2 million dollars to date.

Saturday Parade & Festival is made possible by wonderful, dedicated people, businesses, schools, police, fire, city staff, donors, volunteers, planners, participants and sponsors including North Kansas City, North Kansas City Hospital, North Kansas City Beverage and many more. It is the commitment of the entire community to keeping these festivities safe and fun for the whole family that has cultivated our success and has put us on the map as one of the best parade celebrations in the Midwest region.

Come, see what the excitement is all about!

As we research our past 40 years we are missing a few of the themes from the early years. If you know of these themes please let us know by calling 816-668-8609.

SNAKE SATURDAY PAST THEMES

1994 End of the Rainbow

1995 Northland/Puttin on the Green
1996 Shamrock Swing
1997 ???????
1998 An Irish River Dance
1999 An Irish Celebration
2000 The Sounds of Ireland
2001 An Irish Extravaganza
2002 Irish Shenanigans
2003 It’s an Irish Holiday
2004 An Irish Birthday Celebration
2005 Be Happy Be Irish
2006 Shake your Shamrock
2007 Leprechauns Pot of Gold
2008 Sharin’ O’ the Green
2009 Happy 25th Snake Saturday
2010 2010 An Irish Odyssey!
2011 The Irish Rock
2012 NKC: A Century of Hometown Pride
2013 Irish Roots and Cowboy Boots
2014 Miles and Miles of Irish Smiles
2015 Little bit of Blarney
2016 Wee the People
2017 Leaping Leprechauns
2018 Paint the Town Green
2019 Rock the Blarney
2020 Shamrock Shindig
2021 Lucky to be in NKC
2022 Irish Stampede
2023 Sea of Green
2024 Mickey Finn’s Irish Dream (Year 40)