Locals plan St. Patrick’s Day parade in Fayetteville


View the 2012 St. Patrick’s Day Parade route in a larger map

For the first time in a long time (maybe forever, we’re not sure), there will be a St. Patrick’s Day parade on Dickson Street in 2012.

Local resident Don Brown and friends, who are regular participants in the annual Mardi Gras parade on Dickson Street, decided it was time to start (or resurrect?) the tradition.

“Basically, we love parades, and when we noticed that the nearest St. Patrick’s Day parade was in Eureka Springs this year, we decided to see if we could get one started in Fayetteville,” Brown said.

He expects about 20 or 30 groups to march, ride, or othwerise participate in the parade on Saturday, March 17, and that the event will become a regular tradition in Fayetteville.

“We’re still hearing from people who want to participate, so we’ll see how many (groups) turn out,” he said.

Staging for the parade will begin in the parking lot across from the Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce on Mountain Street at around 11 a.m. on Saturday.

The parade will begin at around noon, with paraders heading up Mountain Street before turning left on East Avenue, and left again onto Dickson Street.

The parade will continue toward West Avenue, and afterwards, Brown said the groups will disperse “wherever their little Irish hearts take them.”