40th Annual FM1960 St. Patrick's Day Parade Happens This Weekend

HOUSTON, TX — Pinch yourself, because it's that time o' year again.

The 40th Annual FM 1960 Saint Patrick’s Parade is happening this Sunday, March 11, at 2:00 p.m.

This year’s Grand Marshal is Jim “Mattress Mack” McIngvale and the parade will honor the “Heroes of Harvey,” with first responders in the parade with the boats and high profile vehicles they used to rescue thousands of people during the flooding.

It's estimated that up to 100,000 people will line the 3.5 mile parade route, between Paradise Valley Drive and Kuykendahl Road.

Road closures are expected to begin at 1 p.m., and will remain closed until 5 p.m., officials said.

The parade features more than 100 elements including floats, fire trucks, and performing groups.

The First Responders who will be represented in the parade are:

• Champions Fire Department
• Cypress Creek EMS
• Cypress Creek Fire Department
• Cy-Fair Fire Department
• Harris County Precinct 4 Constable’s Office
• Harris County Sheriff’s Office
• Klein Fire Department
• Little York Fire Department
• Ponderosa Fire Department
• Spring Fire Department
• U.S. Coast Guard

A distinguished panel of judges will score parade floats and other entries for originality, creativity, appearance, craftsmanship, and spirit with winners being chosen in three categories.

• Youth
• Adult
• Spirit.

In the beginning, the parade was the money generator that supported Cypress Creek EMS, the non-profit 9-1-1 responder that provides emergency medical services to an area of north Harris County that’s larger than the city limits of Atlanta, Georgia.

After voters created Emergency Services District 11, EMS funding was stabilized and the parade began raising funds to educate the future EMTs and Paramedics of CCEMS.

Funds raised by the parade and other official parade events now go to the Cypress Creek EMS Scholarship and Education Fund, which assists deserving students who want to complete EMT or Paramedic training but cannot afford tuition.

The fund also helps keep educational equipment up to date in Cypress Creek’s Accredited Paramedic Academy.

For more information on the parade and other official parade events, visit www.1960parade.com

Image: Shutterstock

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