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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.

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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.

Snake Saturday parade route mapEntries stage on Swift Street from 10th Avenue to 16th Avenue. The parade starts at 16th and Swift, goes north on Swift to Armour Road, east on Armour to Howell Street, then south on Howell back to 16th Avenue, where entries disperse along 16th and 15th. The festival area is between Fayette and Howell, north of 18th Avenue.18th Ave16th Ave15th14th13th12th11th10th AveArmour RdBurlington (Hwy 9)SwiftFayetteHowellIronFestival1Start, 11 a.m.234FinishStaging starts at 10th & Swift
  • 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.

Free

North Kansas City has plenty of free parking. Public Works closes parking on the route early Saturday morning.

Best bets

Any public lot or street north of Armour Road, south of 18th and east of Erie, or west of Clay.

~1 p.m.

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.

10–3

Carnival

Rides and games all day (2026 hours; 2027 to be confirmed).

Kids

Stage & petting zoo

A children's stage show and a petting zoo.

Cars

Clyde Ellis car show

Race cars and show cars from the Central Auto Racing Boosters.

Food

Concession row

Funnel cakes, root beer, popcorn, sandwiches, sausages and ice cream.

Good to know

Before you go.

  • Accessible viewing areasMarked on the official route map.
  • 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.
Enter the paradeAbout the parade