WHO: St. Pat
WHAT: St. Pat officially arrives in Rolla
WHERE: Downtown
WHEN: 11:30 a.m., Wednesday, March 12
WHY: To kick off the 100th celebration of St. Pat’s in Rolla
HOW: St. Pat will enter town aboard the traditional manure spreader
Ceremoniously garbed in green and gold and riding in a manure spreader, St. Pat and his court will officially arrive in downtown Rolla Wednesday, March 12. St. Pat’s activities will continue through Saturday. This is the 100th celebration of St. Pat’s in Rolla.
St. Pat, portrayed by Missouri University of Science and Technology student Paul Voss, will arrive with his court at 11:30 a.m. near Pine and Sixth streets. They will be accompanied by the Rolla High School Dixieland Jazz Band and the Rolla Ambassadors, who will urge everyone on Pine Street to follow them to the pavilion on the corner of Ninth and Oak streets.
Rolla Mayor Bill Jenks and Missouri S&T Chancellor John F. Carney III will meet St. Pat and his court at noon at the pavilion. A 21-cannon salute will be sounded from the Missouri S&T athletic fields to signal the arrival. Follies at the pavilion will follow.
St. Pat’s activities will continue through Saturday. The 100th parade down Pine Street starts at 11 a.m. Saturday. A re-enactment of historical moments from the first St. Pat’s in Rolla starts at 2 p.m.
In 1908, George Menefee presided over the first celebration in Rolla as St. Pat. His official vehicle was, of course, a manure spreader.
