Every year since 1983.

The parades

Themes and Grand Marshals

The official count starts in 1985, so 2027 is the 43rd parade. 1983 was the motel parking lot; the streets came next.

1. 202743rd paradeTheme to be announcedComing up
2. 202642nd paradeKicks & Kilts
3. 202541st paradeFiddlin' Around TownGrand Marshal: David Johnson
4. 202440th paradeMickey Finn’s Irish Dream (Year 40)Grand Marshal: J. D. Green
5. 202339th paradeSuper Shimmering ShamrockGrand Marshal: Rich Groves
6. 202238th paradeLucky to be in NKCGrand Marshal: Jack and Marilyn Coughlin
7. 202137th paradeSpooky Snake SaturdayGrand Marshal: John MillerHeld in the fall, Oct 23
8. 202036th paradeShamrock ShindigCancelled (COVID)
9. 201935th paradeRock the BlarneyGrand Marshal: Steve Beamer
10. 201834th paradePaint the Town GreenGrand Marshal: Sheila Lillis
11. 201733rd paradeLeaping LeprechaunsGrand Marshal: Bill Chastain and Judy Chastain
12. 201632nd paradeWee the PeopleGrand Marshal: Charles Garney
13. 201531st paradeLittle bit of BlarneyGrand Marshal: Ray Brock
14. 201430th paradeMiles and Miles of Irish SmilesGrand Marshal: Peggy Schmidt
15. 201329th paradeIrish Roots and Cowboy BootsGrand Marshal: Glynda Jacobson
16. 201228th paradeNKC: A Century of Hometown PrideGrand Marshal: Bill Biggerstaff
17. 201127th paradeThe Irish RockGrand Marshal: Harry Baker
18. 201026th paradeAn Irish Odyssey!Grand Marshal: Nancy Dillingham
19. 200925th paradeHappy 25th Snake SaturdayGrand Marshal: Dr. Tom Cummings
20. 200824th paradeSharin’ O’ the GreenGrand Marshal: Clyde Ellis
21. 200723rd paradeLeprechauns Pot of GoldGrand Marshal: David Carpenter
22. 200622nd paradeShake your ShamrockGrand Marshal: James (Pete) Hall
23. 200521st paradeBe Happy Be IrishGrand Marshal: Karl Morris
24. 200420th paradeAn Irish Birthday CelebrationGrand Marshal: US Armed Forces
25. 200319th paradeIt’s an Irish HolidayGrand Marshal: James Chappell
26. 200218th paradeIrish ShenanigansGrand Marshal: Frank Victor
27. 200117th paradeAn Irish ExtravaganzaGrand Marshal: Bill Skaggs
28. 200016th paradeThe Sounds of IrelandGrand Marshal: Anita Gorman
29. 199915th paradeAn Irish CelebrationGrand Marshal: Donald Fakhoury
30. 199814th paradeAn Irish River DanceGrand Marshal: Gus Leimkuhler
31. 199713th paradeTheme unknown. Do you remember?Grand Marshal: S. Preston Williams
32. 199612th paradeShamrock SwingGrand Marshal: KC Wolf
33. 199511th paradeNorthland/Puttin on the GreenGrand Marshal: Elizabeth Short
34. 199410th paradeEnd of the RainbowGrand Marshal: Lamar Hunt
35. 19939th paradeTheme unknown. Do you remember?Grand Marshal: Patty Garney
36. 19928th paradeTheme unknown. Do you remember?Grand Marshal: George Cascone
37. 19917th paradeTheme unknown. Do you remember?Grand Marshal: Phil Witt/WDAF TV
38. 19906th paradeTheme unknown. Do you remember?Grand Marshal: Lee Derrough Hunt Midwest
39. 19895th paradeTheme unknown. Do you remember?Grand Marshal: Clark Ferguson
40. 19884th paradeTheme unknown. Do you remember?Grand Marshal: Bob Lemons
41. 19873rd paradeTheme unknown. Do you remember?Grand Marshal: Dick Ryan
42. 19862nd paradeTheme unknown. Do you remember?Grand Marshal: Mickey Finn
43. 19851st paradeTheme unknown. Do you remember?Grand Marshal: Bill Grigsby
44. 1984Before the official countTheme unknown. Do you remember?
45. 1983Before the official countTheme unknown. Do you remember?

Chosen by the Grand Marshals before them

Grand Marshals

• 1985Bill Grigsby
• 1986Mickey Finn
• 1987Dick Ryan
• 1988Bob Lemons
• 1989Clark Ferguson
• 1990Lee Derrough Hunt Midwest
• 1991Phil Witt/WDAF TV
• 1992George Cascone
• 1993Patty Garney
• 1994Lamar Hunt
• 1995Elizabeth Short
• 1996KC Wolf
• 1997S. Preston Williams
• 1998Gus Leimkuhler
• 1999Donald Fakhoury
• 2000Anita Gorman
• 2001Bill Skaggs
• 2002Frank Victor
• 2003James Chappell
• 2004US Armed Forces
• 2005Karl Morris
• 2006James (Pete) Hall
• 2007David Carpenter
• 2008Clyde Ellis
• 2009Dr. Tom Cummings
• 2010Nancy Dillingham
• 2011Harry Baker
• 2012Bill Biggerstaff
• 2013Glynda Jacobson
• 2014Peggy Schmidt
• 2015Ray Brock
• 2016Charles Garney
• 2017Bill Chastain
• 2017Judy Chastain
• 2018Sheila Lillis
• 2019Steve Beamer
• 2021John Miller
• 2022Jack and Marilyn Coughlin
• 2023Rich Groves
• 2024J. D. Green
• 2025David Johnson

The “Green Jacket”: five years or more of service

Shamrock Award

• 1994Hobart Mason
• 1995Glynda Jacobson
• 1996Gabe Brull
• 1997Anne Brandt
• 1998Ray France
• 1999Cheryl Parker
• 2000Margaret Borland
• 2001Karen Barksdale
• 2002Clyde Ellis
• 2003Jane Quigley
• 2004Suzi Cliff
• 2005Mike Ramsey
• 2006Mickey Finn
• 2007Betty Sue Cliff
• 2008Bettie Miller
• 2009Karen Stover
• 2010J D Green
• 2011Linda Borders
• 2012Judy Finn
• 2013Pam Lipari
• 2014Kathy Paiz
• 2015Sean Galloway
• 2016Terry Loos
• 2017Bob Hiatt
• 2018Kelly Sales
• 2019Jim Samuelson
• 2020Diana Green
• 2021David Silvers
• 2022Todd Riggins
• 2023Tracy Vitamvas
• 2024Andrew Danner
• 2025Tabatha Bennett

Behind-the-Scenes Saint Award

• 2024Mindy Davis
• 2025Duane Marusarz

From the organizers' published honor rolls. Meet the founders.