HOT SPRINGS NATIONAL PARK, Arkansas — Hot Springs is sending in the muscle to reason with the village in ‘Rogue Island’ about the title of World’s Shortest St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
“We’re dispatching two world champion armwrestlers from Hot Springs to discuss the situation with our friends in Adamsville, Rogue Island,” Visit Hot Springs CEO Steve Arrison said Wednesday.
“Michael (The Monster) Todd and his wife Rebecca will be going to Adamsville as Hot Springs ambassadors to help our friends up there understand the way a calendar works,” Arrison said. “For a year now we’ve been discussing with Chuck Kinnane and the Adamsville folks our right to the title of The World’s Shortest St. Patrick’s Day Parade®.
“Chuck and his parade organizers say they are the World’s Shortest St. Paddy’s Day Parade, and we were okay with that until the Providence Journal in Rogue Island reported last weekend that Adamsville’s parade isn’t event going to be held on St. Patrick’s Day. They’re going to march 89 feet down the road on March 16 — the day BEFORE the holiday.
“And the paper reported that they suspected we were going to send a ‘spy’ to verify their route measurement.
“Well . . . that did it for us. Now, we’re sending Michael and Rebecca to make sure the Adamsville folks understand what we’re talking about. Michael and Rebecca will be walking in the front door, not spying at the DAY BEFORE ST. PATRICK’S DAY Parade in Rogue Island. Michael has collected 23 world titles and 36 national titles, placing him among the most reputable armwrestlers of all time. He’s married to retired seven-time national armwrestling champion Rebecca. Let’s call them Ambassador Monster Michael Todd and Ambassador Rebecca.
“Michael was our parade king last year, and he’ll armwrestle Chuck Kinnade if diplomacy fails.”
The kerfluffle between Hot Springs and Adamsville reignited during the weekend after nearly a year of quiet.
The Providence Journal reported during the weekend that “The parade organizers in Adamsville were thought to have settled their dispute with Hot Springs, Arkansas, last year, but rumors are circulating that Hot Springs will send spies to measure the route.”
To recap: Arrison, one of the founders of the Hot Springs parade, pointed out in 2024 that the Adamsville parade, which is reportedly 89 feet long, had no claim at all to being The World’s Shortest St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Arrison said Hot Springs’ parade, which covers the 98-foot length of Bridge Street, is officially The World’s Shortest St. Patrick’s Day Parade®, while the Rhode Island event calls itself a “St. Paddy’s Day” parade.
The Journal reported that “The little parade that [Chuck] Kinnane and family members started in 2022 kicked off a controversy that drew widespread attention last when Hot Springs, Arkansas, accused [Adamsville] of falsely claiming the world’s shortest St. Patrick’s Day Parade.”
It continued, “After publicly bickering, the two sides eventually called a truce that let each side save face and claim the title, although the Adamsville parade is clearly shorter, at 89 feet, compared with Hot Springs’ 98 feet. The [Adamsville] parade is officially the ‘World’s Shortest St. Paddy’s Day Parade,’ while Hot Springs carries the title of the ‘World’s Shortest St. Patrick’s Day Parade.’”
On Tuesday, Arrison stepped forward to set the record straight.
“We read with interest the story in the Providence Journal earlier this week about a supposed controversy and truce between the First Ever 22nd Annual World’s Shortest St. Patrick’s Day Parade® and the supposedly World’s Shortest St. Paddy’s Day Parade,” he said.
“We would like to set the record straight. There was no truce or compromise. The Rogue Island parade is not even held on St. Patrick’s Day but a day early, on March 16. How can it be a St. Patrick’s Day Parade and be held a day early?
“They should rename it ‘The World’s Shortest DAY BEFORE St. Patrick’s Day Parade.’ Our parade is ALWAYS held ON St. Patrick’s Day, March 17.”
The 2024 controversy was actually good for the Adamsville parade, according to the Providence newspaper. It about doubled its crowd from the previous year to more than 2,000 people, Kinnane said. The added interest also helped the organizers raise more than $20,000 for area food pantries.
Hot Springs’ parade annually brings 30,000 fun-loving spectators into downtown Hot Springs to watch a riotous mixture of floats, bands, marching groups, the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders and marching Irish Elvis Impersonators strut, walk and ride the 98-foot length of Bridge Street, the World’s Shortest Street in Everyday Use. This year will also feature beloved actress Valerie Bertinelli as the celebrity grand marshal and hip-hop legend Flavor Flav as the official parade starter. Legendary rock band Grand Funk Railroad will perform a free public concert in the parade area on March 16, the day before the parade. Tribute band The Molly Ringwalds will perform a free concert immediately after the parade on March 17.
For more information contact Steve Arrison at 501-321-2027.