The only bi-state Saint Patrick’s Day parade in the nation kicks off in a few hours with a flurry of Irish music, dancers and marchers. John Scally is chairman of the 16th annual Saint Patrick’s Society Parade of the Quad Cities. He says they have a lot of families walking and several floats.Many other towns across the state are holding St. Patrick’s Day events today, including Des Moines, Dyersville, Cedar Rapids, Clear Lake and Ainsworth. Scally explains the unusual nature of this parade, which winds through Iowa and Illinois. It starts at 11:30 in Rock Island, crossed the Mississippi River Bridge and through downtown Davenport.Scally says there is something else very out of the ordinary this year.A local couple will get married in Rock Island just before the parade starts and ride the parade route in a horse-drawn carriage. There’s a post-parade bash at the Col Ballroom in Davenport with all sorts of Irish food, drink and entertainment. On Sunday, there’s the 6th annual Irish Heritage Day at the Mississippi River Center in Davenport.
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