This is a guest post from Marquette parent Diana Mendelsohn who wanted to share this even with our community.

Greetings, Moms, kids, and others who love the color GREEN!

First, Happy March.  Finally, spring is around the corner and all things green.

Last year we promoted all things green during the annual downtown South Bend St.
Patrick's Day parade with a special entry.  This short parade, just five blocks or so, will be a fun and creative way for your family to celebrate all things green.

I have kids wearing giant, colorful, silk flowers, cute masks representing koala, flamingo, chimpanzee, tiger, butterflies, and more flowers!  Your child is invited to portray their favorite living thing in the parade:  even a spider.  We will promote our green messages while carrying signs:  "Be Green:  Recycle!"  "Plant a Garden"  "Clean the river on April 6th"  Come to the Arbor & Earth Festival- April 20th at Howard Park" & Plant a Wildflower Garden" even "Visit the Conservatories."

I think you get the picture:  promoting a green community while we walk the dogs, have fun with our kids who get to wear a costume they have made or perhaps used makeup only. . .this activity will be FUN! We had a wonderful time last year.

I am asking anyone who plans to participate to let me know by Friday noon on March 15th so that we can make arrangements.  At the end, we will have hot chocolate for everyone.

And if anyone needs to ride in a truck or car, we can arrange for this.  I have an ultra low

emission Honda that will work; I prefer to walk.  Our family plans to walk our St. Bernard named Lilly Pad.  She is a therapy dog and loves to hang out. Only bring your dog is she/he is calm and good in crowds.  If the weather turns too cold for your children, I understand your need to bow out:  now problem.  In that case, I would stand inside of the

glassed area of the Emporium and you will see all of the parade.  I had to do this one year due to a severe cough.

We have an extra butterfly costume; John Sky informed me he is too big for that one!

I have lots of super cute face masks to share-just let me know if you need to borrow one.

We will meet at 10:30 am at the following location:

parking lot of the Zion Church of Christ, located just across from Howard Park.

By 10:40 we will proceed to our location in the parade.  I will have my phone with me that day in the event you are unable to locate our group:  574. 485-7378.  We will have a visible costumed character with us that day:  "Mother Earth."  She is fairly easy to spot, just look for the earth.

I hope you will be able to join us for the fun parade.  Last year we promoted recycling, gardening, and the Arbor & Earth Festival by walking in the parade and it is time well spent.  The total time for the day will be less than sixty minutes only:  not bad.

 

Afterwards we will watch the rest of the parade as it goes by our group.

After the parade is finished, we walk fifty feet to the entrance to Seitz Park for the greening of the St. Joseph River, the Sagwa river.  Ask the kids if they know the name of the river!  There we will share mugs of hot cocoa.  There will be wonderful music and lots to see and do. 

And feel free to pass along to friends who may enjoy the festivities!

Your friend,

Diana Mendelsohn

574. 277-7456

"Celebrate Earth Day Every Day"

-John Denver song