John O’Donnell

Role with the parade — Carol and I started this in late 1984, first parade was on St. Patricks Day

“I went knocking on doors to find money to pay for expenses, might of had 16 or more individuals, 

“I went banging on doors for bands, calling for services to be in parade

Also did race that year, might of had 300

2007 – hit high point 3,000+

“It was a lot of hustling, place to place, Carol would drive around, would write letters

“It’s an adventure 

Why start?

There was a woman I had worked with at a band on the West Side, had been in touch about another fundraising event, 

Started to talk, had tried to do a one block long parade, they wanted someone to really commit to doing something

Her and some westside people said why don’t you do this

“Being Irish and from the East Coast, Staten Island, I kind of had that

“I was kind of hardwired,

Overview. What will this year’s parade festivities include/look like?

Events start off this Saturday with ‘”locate the leprechaun”

Parade and races

At the end of the scavenger hunt, if they found the leperchaun, Kids went to restuarants and candy store Sat. 1-3 

Next Friday, Sports Expo, done at the Antlers 10-6

Runners, bike riders, etc. pick up event packages, giveaways, a lot of vendors that service health 

Running shoe stores, etc. 

Will run probably 2,000+

Event day – 9 a.m. – grand marshalls reception

After 40 years, we are the grand marshalls, since I’ve already

Combined with parade

Veterans center fundraiser, special guest football player, spokesman for Carmel

Donating to Mt. Carmel

There will be breakfast and sash grand marshall

At 9:30 at CC, there’s a bike ride, peddling for St. Patrick’s Day, starts at Colorado College parking lot

50K, 30K and family ride route; 

10 a.m. 5K for St. Patricks Day, expecting anywhere from 1,400-1,600 runners

At 11 a.m., two kids races, half mile for 5-8, one mile 9+

At Noon is the parade

92 entries, typically takes about an hour and half for everyone to get by

Purposely cut it down, extra duty police cost is expensive, by the time, 

6 bands, 3 are pipe bands, Fort Carson Band will lead off the parade

Culturally, in our community, Savannah, been to, never seen so many Irish pubs, ran across 6-8 of them

Space Force is putting together an entry, marchers, entire block to stage it, waiting to see, color guards, a lot of stuff

“Any special thanks, people who’ve worked with us on this parade since the very beginning,” 

“We have some really good sponsors, city helps, that helps pay for police bill…

What will be different this year?

40th annual 

What is it like celebrating the 40th parade?

There’s one experience

After we had done the tenth one, Carol and I were out Christmas shopping

Guy came up, 

“I want to let you know….high school, I just

“I get that from time to time, people bring it up

“It’s just nice to be able to contribute to the community, I spent most of my life here,

“We put months into this, blood, sweat, tears, sometimes pay for it self, got so big, had to move it

Parking problems, there’s never too many people, they all come with cars

Plan in advance, 

Did you ever imagine it would go this long?/turn into what it has?

Tips for those going.

What are you looking forward to?

“The fact we can pull off this contribution with Mt. Carmel, organized

“Helping boost that event to raise more money is one thing we’re happy about 

Good weather, “should be good weather, step out on the street and watch who’s there, family’s with 

Notable Grand Marshalls

Michael O’Kennedy — TD member of the Irish Parliament, etc. MGM Central

St. Mira James who ran Penrose Health System

Patrick L. Murphies, Last year, we did

CSStPats.com

What: 40th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade

When: 12 p.m. Saturday, March 16

Where: Downtown Colorado Springs, Tejon Street

Price: Free; 719-635-8803; csstpats.com

A National Mill Dog Rescue dog takes a lift while marching Saturday, March 11, 2023, during the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in downtown Colorado Springs. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock)

Christian Murdock/The Gazette

Mayor John Suthers and his wife, Janet, wave to the crowd on March 11 during the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in downtown Colorado Springs.

Christian Murdock, Gazette file

Kroix Evelyn, 8, left, Kitts Evelyn, who turns 10 on St. Patrick’s Day, and Kenlyanna Evelyn bundle up as they wait for the start of the parade Saturday, March 11, 2023, during the St. Patrick’s Day celebration in downtown Colorado Springs. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock)

Christian Murdock/The Gazette

Savannah Sudweeks, 9 months, watches from a backpack while her father, Mike Sudweeks, takes a picture of her mom, Mysty Sudweeks, reaching the finishline Saturday, March 11, 2023, during the St. Patrick’s Day 5k run before the parade in downtown Colorado Springs. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock)

Christian Murdock/The Gazette