Grand marshal named for St. Patrick’s Day Parade

Pigeon605 Staff

February 15, 2022

He has marched in each of the 41 St. Patrick’s Day parades in Sioux Falls — and will be leading this year’s event.

Mike O’Hara, 76, has been named grand marshal of the parade, which will be held March 19 through downtown.

O’Hara is 100 percent Irish and the owner of O’Hara Masonry. He’s a native of Montrose and one of 14 children. The O’Hara clan emigrated to South Dakota in the mid-1800s via Iowa from County Cavan in Northern Ireland.

O’Hara’s dad, John, served in the grand marshal role 22 years ago.

“He was honored but didn’t understand why a guy from Montrose would be in a parade in Sioux Falls,” O’Hara said.

The family has become known for attending, though. Typically, between 35 and 50 members of the clan will participate on a memorable float. The most recent featured the “old woman” in a very large shoe.

“Construction of the float and participation in the parade became the reason for the largest concentration of our family to honor our Irish traditions,” O’Hara said. “From my parents to the grandkids, the great-grandkids, and the great-great-grandkids, the parade has been a cause for all to gather and celebrate. Many a great- or great-great-grandchild has had their family ‘debut’ at the parade.”

The parade returns to downtown this year after a two-year pandemic-related absence. It will honor the late Msgr. James Doyle, the 1999 grand marshal and a long-time supporter of all things Irish.

The parade usually has about 100 entries and is called the people’s parade because anyone can participate as long as they are registered or part of a registered group and wearing an official St. Patrick’s parade button costing $3.

Registration, which closes March 12, is available here. Placement in the parade is on a first-come, first-served basis and is at the discretion of parade officials. Each entry must have some kind of Irish theme.

Buttons are available in advance at the Greater Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce office, 200 N. Phillips Ave., and numerous businesses throughout the community. They also can be purchased the day of the parade at the starting point.

The traditional painting of the shamrock will take place at 11 a.m. March 19 in front of Mrs. Murphy’s Irish Gifts, 219 S. Phillips Ave. Phillips Avenue will be closed at 10:45 a.m. between 10th and 11th streets. The parade takes off from Phillips Avenue and 13th Street at 2 p.m. and ends near Fifth Street. Streets adjacent to the route are closed at 1:30 p.m., and parking is not allowed on Phillips starting late Saturday morning. The parade will begin staging at 12:30 p.m. on Main and Dakota avenues between 11th and 13th streets.

An enduring part of the parade has been the Khartum Temple Pipe & Drums from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. They hope to return this year and their expenses have been covered by donations from Sanford Health, Avera Health, Xcel Energy and Holliday Inn City Centre.

Other activities include:

  • The Vanguard Squadron, an ethanol-powered airplane stunt team, will perform at the start of the parade, weather permitting.
  • The falls of the Big Sioux River will be lit green on St. Patrick’s Day.
  • The Arc of Dreams sculpture over the river will be lit green.
  • Though not officially part of the Extravaganza Committee’s efforts, the Lucky 7s 1-mile, 5-mile and 5K runs will be held on parade day. The 1-mile race starts at 1 p.m. at Remedy Brewing Co., 8th & Railroad Center.

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