Show your Irish pride at the 34th Annual Brookside St. Patrick’s Warm-Up Parade on Saturday, March 15 at 2 p.m. in the Brookside Shopping District. This year’s theme is Shamrock Shenanigans.
More than 100 organizations representing groups and families of all ages participate in this fun, family-oriented event. Parade entries march or ride in a variety of vehicles from red wagons to floats to classic cars. Entries include bands, drill teams, Irish dancers and dogs of all shapes and sizes.
The 34th Annual Brookside St. Patrick’s Warm-Up Parade route runs through the Brookside shopping district along 63rd Street from Wornall to Main. The parade lasts approximately one and a half hours and is sponsored by the Brookside Business Association and the Kansas City Neighborhood Tourism Fund.
This year’s honorary “Mr. and Mrs. Irish” are Dr. Jay and Jill Hodge. Dr. Jay Hodge grew up in the Brookside area where his father, Dr. Vance Hodge, practiced dentistry for 55 years. Jay joined the practice in 1976. The office, still in essentially the same space in the Brookside building, has been remodeled and expanded many times, and today Dr. Hodge and his staff are proud of their state of the art office. It reflects their belief that everything about dental care should be the best it can be – quality patient care with integrity. The Hodge family dental practice has the distinction of being the oldest continuously operating office tenant in Brookside, as well as the oldest dental/medical practice.
Jill works out of their home engraving for area gift stores and a variety of clients. She enjoys her volunteer work with Harvesters and area food pantries, and can be found on occasion behind the front desk at Jay’s office. Together the couple enjoys spending time with their family and friends, long walks with their dog Charlie (who will miss being in the parade this year), playing outdoors in the yard, garden or lake and pretty much, loving life in general.
About Brookside Business Association
Brookside, a charming neighborhood in the heart of Kansas City, was originally planned and built in 1920, becoming the city’s first suburban shopping area. Today, Brookside is home to more than 80 shops, restaurants and services, all unique and in keeping with the original neighborhood charm and architecture.
The Brookside Business Association is a voluntary organization whose purpose is to create and preserve a pleasant surrounding for conducting business in Brookside. Located between Wornall and Main Street from 62nd Terrace to Meyer Blvd., Brookside is only minutes from the Plaza, Leawood, South Kansas City and many other Kansas City attractions. Visit www.brooksidekc.org for more information.