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I once attended a St. Patrick's Day parade along Magazine Street in the Irish Channel of New Orleans. There were lots of elderly ladies standing along the parade route with rolling shopping carts. I wondered why, then found out. The guys on the floats had a great time hurling cabbages and potatoes at those of us who were idiotic enough to wave our hands in the air as they went by. If we didn't suffer broken bones or other bodily harm in snatching the fast-moving projectiles, we deposited them in the nearest shopping cart. The ladies got free groceries, and we all had a big adventure.

Even without such antics, the Rock to North Little Rock St. Patrick's Day Parade will be a fun-filled celebration with floats, decorated cars, trucks and motorcycles, bands and other musical entertainment, and costumed walkers.

The parade, sponsored by the Irish Cultural Society of Arkansas, will start at the Clinton Presidential Center, go through the River Market and over the Main Street Bridge to North Little Rock, then end at Sixth and Main streets in North Little Rock. Music, dancing, and similar festivities will continue at Cregeen's Irish Pub when the parade is over.

The Irish Cultural Society of Arkansas is a not-for-profit public service organization founded in 1996 to educate Arkansans in aspects of the culture and history of Ireland. The Society provides Irish food and objects of Irish art for folk festivals and fairs, stages concerts of Irish music and dance, and participates in community service programs and events — all in an effort to reconnect Arkansans with their Irish heritage.

To learn more, click here or call (501) 868-6416.