SaPaDaPaSo Parade Returns Downtown, Won’t Be on St. Patrick’s Day

The 47th Annual St. Patrick's Day Parade in Cedar Rapids is going to be the start of a new tradition in the city.

After COVID forced the cancellation of the 2020 parade, a unique stationary parade was held at Hawkeye Downs on Saturday, March 12, 2021. What happened that day caused the SaPaDaPaSo (Saint Patrick's Day Parade Society) to rethink the future.

Last year's stationary parade, on a beautiful late winter day, drew a huge crowd to Hawkeye Downs. What we didn't know at the time was that it would be the start of a new ritual in the city. The St. Patrick's Day parade is returning to downtown this March, but it won't be held on St. Patrick's Day. It won't in the future, either, unless it falls on a Saturday.

SaPaDaPaSo announced on Facebook,

The parade has been moved to Saturday to allow for greater participation & volunteer availability. March 17th, 2029 falls on a Saturday 🙂 so you will see the parade "on the day" again but it will be a few years.

The 2022 parade will be held on Saturday, March 12 at 1 p.m. Registration for the 2022 parade is now open.

Downtown Cedar Rapids is now going to have two St. Patrick's Day's nearly every year starting this March. A parade-driven one, and one on the holiday itself. I expect plenty will celebrate both with a green beer. Or two. Or...