Plan your visit
Find your spot on Swift Street.
The 43rd parade steps off Saturday, March 13, 2027 at 11 a.m. It's free, it's family-friendly, and it happens rain, sleet, snow or sunshine. Get there early: the good curb spots go first.
The route
North on Swift, east on Armour, south on Howell.
The parade starts at 16th & Swift, heads north to Armour Road, turns east to Howell Street, and comes back south to 16th. It takes about two hours to pass. Stay behind the painted green line; it's there for your safety.
- Parade route
- Entry staging, 10th to 16th on Swift
- Entries leave the route
- Inside the route: if you park here, you stay until about 1 p.m.
Not to scale. Redrawn from the organizers' 2026 map; see the official map with restrooms and accessible viewing areas. The 2027 route will be confirmed in February.
Parking
Park free, and park outside the loop.
North Kansas City has plenty of free parking. Public Works closes parking on the route early Saturday morning.
Any public lot or street north of Armour Road, south of 18th and east of Erie, or west of Clay.
Park inside the route (east of Swift, south of Armour, west of Howell) and you stay until the parade clears. Moving a barricade can get you a ticket.
From the organizers' 2026 parking page. Please shop and eat at the businesses along the route; they make the parade possible.
The festival
Before, during and after the parade.
The festival area sits between Fayette and Howell, just north of 18th. It's built for kids, the way founder Mickey Finn wanted it.
Carnival
Rides and games all day (2026 hours; 2027 to be confirmed). See it on the festival map.
Stage & petting zoo
A children's stage show and a petting zoo. See it on the festival map.
Clyde Ellis car show
Race cars and show cars from the Central Auto Racing Boosters, here since 1990. Visit kccarb.com.
Vendor booths
Arts and crafts, boutiques, local businesses and nonprofits. See them on the festival map.
Concession row
Funnel cakes, root beer, popcorn, sandwiches, sausages and ice cream. Want to sell here? Apply for a booth.
Start the day with a run. The Life Unlimited 5K & 1 Mile Walk steps off at 8 a.m. on parade morning at 320 Armour Road, in partnership with Snake Saturday, and benefits adults with developmental disabilities. Sign up on RunSignup.
Good to know
Before you go.
- EmergenciesCall 911.
- Accessible viewing areas and restroomsBoth are marked on the official route map.
- Stay behind the green lineNo standing or watching from the medians. The line is there for your safety.
- Alcohol-freeSnake Saturday is an alcohol-free event: no alcohol in the parade or the staging area.
- By busRideKC Route 238 stops at Swift & Armour, but buses near the route detour on parade day. Check ridekc.org before you go.
- By rideshareStreets inside the route close early. Set your drop-off where we suggest parking: north of Armour Road, south of 18th and east of Erie, or west of Clay Street.
- Lost a parent, or a child?Find any North Kansas City police officer on the route. They take the lead on reuniting families.
- Candy comes by handNothing is thrown from floats. Walkers hand out candy along the curb.
- Where's the parade?On parade day, follow it live as it moves along the route.
- Results at 3 p.m.Prizes are awarded at the North Kansas City YMCA after the parade.
- WeatherSnake Saturday happens rain, sleet, snow or sunshine. Dress for March.
- Bring a chair or a blanketCurbside spots fill early along Swift, Armour and Howell.