Quad Cities St. Patrick’s Day Parade Is America’s Only Bi-State Parade Of Its Kind

After two years of being postponed or canceled, the St. Patrick's Society annual Grand Parade is returning to its normal time of year and is looking for parade entries. The XXXVI (36) annual Grand Parade is scheduled for March 12th and if you didn't know, The Grand Parade held every year in the Quad Cities is the only bi-state parade of its kind in the country.

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If there is one thing the Quad Cities does the best, it's celebrating St. Patrick's Day. The past two years have been a little tough because of the pandemic. In 2020, the Grand Parade, which is put on by the St. Patrick's Society, was canceled altogether. In 2021, the 35th annual Grand Parade was pushed all the way back to August because of the pandemic. In 2022, the 36th annual St. Patrick's Day Grand Parade returns to its normal time of year and officials are gearing up for another awesome St. Patrick's Day weekend.

The National's Only Bi-State St. Patrick's Day Parade

What you might not know about The Grand Parade put on by the St. Patrick's Society is that it's a very unique St. Patrick's Day parade. While many cities and towns across America celebrate the patron saint of Ireland with parades and parties, The Grand Parade is the only St. Patrick's Day parade in America that spans two states.

For the past 35, almost 36 years, The Grand Parade begins in Rock Island, IL, and finishes in Davenport, IA making it the only bi-state parade of its kind in the country.

The founders of the St. Patrick's Society and The Grand Parade wanted to make sure the parade was the best St. Patrick's Day parade the Quad Cities had ever seen. Clearly, it worked because the bi-state St. Patrick's Day in the Quad Cities has happened every year for 36 years. You can read more about The Founders and their interesting beginnings, here.

The XXXVI Grand Parade Route

According to St. Patrick's Society officials, the day begins with Mass at St. Mary’s (2204 4th Ave. Rock Island) at 10:00 a.m., then the St. Patrick’s Grand Parade will start at 11:30 a.m. at the corner of 4th Avenue and 23rd Street in Rock Island.

The parade will travel through downtown Rock Island, across the Mississippi River over the Talbot/Centennial Bridge to W 3rd St., and proceed east through downtown Davenport to the RiverCenter at E 3rd and Perry Streets.

The Post-Parade Bash will take place at the RiverCenter from 1-4 p.m. with other parties being held at various bars and restaurants in downtown Davenport

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Participate In The XXXVI St. Patrick's Day Grand Parade

The St. Patrick Society announced the Grand Parade XXXVI (36) will be held this year on Saturday, March 12, 2022. Parade organizers said they are looking for participants to take part in this year's parade by expressing the spirit of St. Patrick and Irish Heritage. Officials are encouraging family walking units and decorated floats to join in the parade.

Applicants of a purely commercial theme are not permitted. For parade information and entry applications, email grandparadesps@outlook.com. Applications must be returned no later than Wednesday, February 19th, 2022. Accepted units will receive staging area assignments of their position via email.

Check out photos from the 2021 Grand Parade held in August, with photos from the St. Patrick's Society courtesy of Joe Detmer.

More Facts About The Quad Cities

The Quad Cities being home to America's only bi-state St. Patrick's Day Parade is fact #20 on the list below. Check out 99 other interesting facts you may or may not know about the Quad Cities below!