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

"We are live in Little Compton, Rhode Island, where the world’s shortest St. Patrick’s Day parade is kicking off right now! This may be a small-town parade, but the spirit here is anything but small!"

That was my opening line on Sunday, March 16, as the fourth annual World’s Shortest St. Paddy’s Day Parade took over Main Street, and let me tell you – while the parade route may be only 89 feet long, the energy, the crowd and the excitement were huge.

From local businesses and organizations to the lively sound of bagpipes and drums, Irish pride filled the street. Each year, this parade gets bigger and better, and the Kinnane Brothers truly outdid themselves this time around.

This year’s parade featured some incredible highlights, including New England Patriots Hall of Famer and three-time Super Bowl champ Troy Brown, who added some serious star power to the lineup.

Then there was (in my opinion) the world’s longest balloon dragon, an eye-catching creation dreamed up by Chip Rascal of What The Fun Inc., an absolute showstopper within the tight parade route.

In a fun twist, Hot Springs, Arkansas – Little Compton’s rival for the "world’s shortest parade" title – sent over a couple of "spies" to check out the action. These weren’t just any spies; they were world champion arm wrestlers Michael "The Monster" Todd and his wife Rebecca, who came to scope out the competition and maybe settle things with a good old-fashioned showdown.

Spoiler alert: They lost to Troy Brown's youngest son.

All of this excitement, and it was all for a great cause: supporting local food banks.

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A Fun 107 Front-Row Seat

I had a prime view of the action from my special Fun 107 studio setup – a.k.a. my self-proclaimed ivory tower – where I got to soak it all in and provide some lively color commentary. The parade lasted a solid 45 minutes, and the energy never dipped for a second.

The Party Didn’t Stop There

As the parade wrapped, the festivities were just getting started. The afterparty saw a massive crowd of parade-goers sticking around for food, drinks and live music, packing into a tent twice the size of last year’s, because more space equals more fun.

On stage, Sharks Come Cruisn’ brought the energy, Scottish Fish added a Celtic flair, and Pipe Dream rocked the house with a fusion of bagpipe rock and traditional melodies. The pints were flowing and the camaraderie was off the charts.

As the night wound down, I said my goodbyes to new and old friends and thanked the Kinnane Brothers one last time for another unforgettable celebration of Irish pride and family fun.

Looking Ahead to Year 5

My sign-off was simple but fitting: "That’s a wrap on year four of the shortest St. Patrick’s Day parade! Now, onto the real St. Paddy’s Day traditions; who’s ready for some corned beef and a pint?"

Just like that, another year down, another St. Paddy’s celebration for the books. Can’t wait to see what Year 5 has in store