HOT SPRINGS NATIONAL PARK, Arkansas — The four Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders who scored a major hit in 2013 will return to Hot Springs March 17 to enliven the First Ever 11th Annual World’s Shortest St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
Lauren Williams, Nicole Bulcher, Jacie Scott and Kinzie Rusco had such a great time entertaining at the 2013 parade that they decided as a group to return after being invited back this year, according to Aundrea Crary, a member of the parade committee that organizes the annual zaniness.
“Lauren had such fun last year that she actively lobbied the parade committee to be the queen of this year’s parade,” Crary said. “We had to tell her that the king and queen of the parade must be Hot Springs residents. She decided she wanted to come back anyway.
“The Cheerleaders were so well-received because of their great enthusiasm in reacting with the crowd, and they are such fun to work with that we decided to ask the whole group of four to come back. They were glad to accept our invitation, and I’m sure they’ll be a big hit with the crowd again.”
Members of the world-famous cheerleader squad have to undergo the rigorous try-outs each year, Crary said, and all four of the Hot Springs visitors made the squad again this season. Williams and Bulcher have made the squad four times, Scott and Rusco twice.
Tom and Mary Daniel will be the King and Queen of the Parade, which covers the 98-foot length of world-famous Bridge Street, the shortest street in the world in everyday use, according to Ripley’s Believe It or Not.
Entertainer Jim Belushi, star of TV, movies and comedy clubs, will be the celebrity grand marshal, leading the dozens of floats, bands, marchers, Irish Elvis Presley impersonators, Irish wolfhounds, dancing Irish belly dancers and others down Bridge Street.
“It’s hard to believe this will be the 11th year we’ve put together this event, which began as an idea hatched by a group of citizens enjoying adult beverages in a bar at Spencer’s Corner,” said Steve Arrison, CEO of Visit Hot Springs.
Entries are already being accepted for the 11th annual parade. Only 40 entries will be accepted, and one entry has already been received by Leysa Lowery at Visit Hot Springs. For information on submitting an entry, call Lowery at 501-321-2027.