The Quad Cities are turning green for this weekend’s St. Patrick’s day celebrations.
The country’s only bi-state St. Patrick’s day parade will kick off in Rock Island and end in Davenport Saturday.
But, getting around the Quad Cities may be difficult.

The streets of Davenport and Rock Island will look a lot different starting Saturday morning.
The city already has signs posted showing where you can’t park.
Roads will begin to close in Davenport starting at five in the morning for the C.A.S.I 5K.
They’ll be closing Second, Third and Harrison streets for staging.
After the race, celebrations continue.
This will be the 31st year for the St. Patrick’s day parade.

“Everybody is Irish on parade day,” said Joe Dooley, St. Patrick Society president.

The parade will close off streets like Brady and Gaines and more of Third street.
That parade starts in Rock Island at 23rd street and Fourth avenue at 11:30 Saturday morning.
The president of the saint patrick society says it takes close to a year to plan but it’s all worth it.
He says if you’ve never been, make sure to check it out.

“Once you’ve seen it you won’t miss it again. I tell you in Rock Island the crowds are going every year probably eight to ten deep if not more then you get to the Davenport on Third street and it’s even thicker. You’d have to see it to believe it but once you’ve seen it you won’t ever want to miss it again,” said Dooley.

Iowa-bound lanes of the Centennial bridge will be closed to traffic from 11 until 1:30 Saturday afternoon. That’s when the parade will wrap up and all roads will re-open.
Parade officials say rain or shine, the party will go on.
After the parade, there will be an after party at the RiverCenter in Davenport.

“It’s time for fun we want everybody to party responsibly and have a good time but it’s fun just seeing the families and the kids out,” said Dooley.

The society has partnered up with the local food bank. They’ll be the very front of the parade collecting non-perishable food items and monetary donations.
Last year, they collected more than 400 pounds of food and about $1,700.

They hope to raise even more this year.

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