NORTH KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Snake Saturday Parade and Festival is celebrated its 30 year anniversary in the metro.
In that time, organizers have given away more than $1 million to local charities. The founder of the parade passed away just two weeks ago, but his philanthropic legacy lives on in the northland.
If it’s the weekend before St. Patrick’s Day in the northland, it’s as traditional as the mystic whine of Irish bagpipes.
“We’ve been coming for 30 years. i brought my daughter when she was young and we’ve been coming ever since,” said one parade goer. “This is her first snake Saturday parade, what a joy.”
Snake Saturday and all its emerald-flavored hilarity was Mickey Finn’s brainchild.
“Mickey Finn is a legend in the northland,” said Mindy Hart.
It was his way of pulling a community together and giving back to local charities by awarding big prize money to the top floats.
Since the beginning, concerned care has been a top contender for the cash.
Concerned care helps people with disabilities live independently. Over the years their floats have won more than $60,000 but for them, it’s definitely not just about the money.
“Snake Saturday is such a huge party. Everybody is having a good time and our people are right in there and that’s the best part of it,” said Barbara Griggs with Concerned Care.
The event is charity minded, family friendly, community driven and even pet friendly, which is exactly the way the founder wanted it.
“That’s how most people got involved with Snake Saturday because Mickey Finn would come say ‘I got something I want you to help me with, would you do that?'” said Hart.
Snake Saturday is the responding answer to Mickey Finn’s engaging question, drawing even St. Patrick himself and about ten thousand of his closest friends.
Congratulations to Saint Patrick’s Parish and School. They won the $7,000 Best in Parade prize.
