Rhode Island’s World’s Shortest St. Paddy’s Parade Welcomes Patriots Legend Matt Light

Grab your green and your small-town pride because one of the quirkiest St. Patrick’s Day celebrations in the SouthCoast region is getting ready to return, and this year it’s bringing in a New England Patriot "Big Gun."

The World’s Shortest St. Paddy’s Day Parade will celebrate its fifth year on Sunday, March 15, 2026, taking over 26 Main Road in Adamsville, Rhode Island with a parade route that measures just 89 feet long.

Yes, you read that right. Just 89 feet, but what the parade lacks in distance, it makes up for in heart — raising money each year for local food banks.

Patriots Great Matt Light Named Guest of Honor

This year’s celebration is getting a major dose of New England star power with three-time Super Bowl Champion Matt Light serving as the parade’s Guest of Honor.

The former New England Patriots offensive tackle helped protect Tom Brady during some of the most dominant seasons in franchise history and remains a beloved figure among Patriots fans.

Light will help kick off the festivities and bring a little Foxboro flair to the tiny village of Adamsville for one of the most unique St. Patrick’s Day celebrations anywhere in New England and beyond.

Honoring Community Tradition

Another special moment during the 2026 parade will be honoring Kitty Hayes, who will serve as this year’s Grand Marshal.

Hayes holds the distinction of being Little Compton’s longest-living resident, making her a fitting choice to lead this community-focused celebration.

READ MORE: Little Compton’s 89-Foot St. Paddy’s Parade Proves Size Doesn’t Matter

Meanwhile, the one-and-only James Manning will once again serve as the parade’s Official All-Time Ribbon Cutter, a role he has proudly held since the event began.

A Small Parade Making a Big Impact

While the parade route may be tiny, the impact has been huge.

In just five short years, the World’s Shortest St. Paddy’s Day Parade has welcomed local legends, community heroes and dozens of distinguished guests, all while rallying the community around a great cause.

Together, supporters have helped raise more than $60,000 for local food banks serving families across the region.

Leprechauns and Pots of Gold

Organizers are once again encouraging attendees to bring cash donations to help continue that mission.

Throughout the parade, leprechauns carrying pots of gold will be roaming the crowd collecting donations for local food banks, giving people a fun way to contribute to the cause.

The Party Continues After the Parade

The celebration doesn’t stop when the 89-foot parade ends.

An after-party featuring live music, Irish food and plenty of St. Paddy’s Day fun will follow the parade, continuing the fundraising efforts.

Tickets and event information for the after-party can be found here, but fair-warning: this will sell out as it has in the past. Good luck!

Here's the outcome of last year's festivities: