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‘Irish I was in Dysart’

Dysart’s wee St. Patrick’s Day parade draws a bundled up crowd

St. Patrick’s Day revelers march in the Dysart parade last Friday down Main Street. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER
Piper Glenn Chatfield, right, entertains the crowd last Friday outside of Harper’s Public House alongside his wife Lynn on the snare drum moments before ‘Dysart, Iowa’s Shortest St. Patrick’s Day Parade’ made its way down Main Street. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER
Officer Jeremy Stenda leads the way in his police cruiser during last Friday’s ‘Dysart, Iowa’s Shortest St. Patrick’s Day Parade.' PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER
Glenn Chatfield of North Liberty performs on the bagpipes as part of ‘Dysart, Iowa’s Shortest St. Patrick’s Day Parade’ last Friday on Main Street. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER
‘Luckytown Dysart’ mayor Tim Glenn smiles following his town’s second annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade last Friday on Main Street. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER
“Irish I Could Be In Dysart” declares a parade poster during last Friday’s St. Patrick’s Day parade in Dysart. Union Community School District was on spring break during the week leading up to the holiday, allowing many local schoolchildren the opportunity to take part in the second annual event. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER
Participants in ‘Dysart, Iowa’s Shortest St. Patrick’s Day Parade’ throw candy last Friday along Main Street. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER
PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER
Ariel Driscol, 1, smiles from atop her dad’s shoulders – and behind the warmth and safety of the public library windows – during the St. Patrick’s Day Parade held last Friday in downtown Dysart. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

With the help of a howling north wind at their backs, participants in Dysart’s second annual ‘Iowa’s Shortest St. Patrick’s Day Parade’ took to Main Street just past noon last Friday and quickly strode down the block in celebration of the holiday.

Despite less than ideal weather – temperatures were in the mid 20s but felt at least 10 degrees colder due to the biting wind – that didn’t stop at least a dozen revelers from walking the parade route alongside kilted Mayor Tim Glenn who again this year sported a fiery orange beard and waved a golf iron.

“​​Obviously the wonderful early spring weather was a huge factor for the large and enthusiastic crowd,” Mayor Glenn said cheekily of the weather following the parade. “I thought the turnout was great! Dysart always shows up to support and celebrate our awesome town.”

As scheduled, the parade kicked off just after 12:15 p.m. with Dysart Police Officer Jeremy Stenda leading the way in his cruiser, while several decorated golf carts and members of Dysart EMS in their ambulances brought up the wee parade’s caboose.

New this year, just prior to the parade launching from the intersection of Main and Wilson streets, bagpiper Glenn Chatfield and his wife Jill on the snare played a tune for the crowd outside of Harper’s Public House.

While many opted to view the parade from Main Street sidewalks – wearing plenty of warm clothes in order to combat the piercing cold wind – the Driscol family opted to take in the tiny parade from the comfort of the public library’s Learning Center windows which face Main Street about halfway down the block.

One-year-old Ariel Driscol watched the parade from the warmth and comfort of her dad Travis Driscol’s shoulders while her mom Morgan Gladson stood alongside.

Both parents said they were at least “part Irish” but as everyone in ‘Luckytown Dysart’ knows, everyone’s Irish during ‘Iowa’s Shortest St. Patrick’s Day Parade.’