Arkansas Blarney Stone-kissing Contest Added to Fun Surrounding Hot Springs' First Ever Fifth Annual World's Shortest St. Patrick's Day Parade

HOT SPRINGS NATIONAL PARK, Arkansas – Think you've got a creative way of kissing the official Arkansas Blarney Stone? It could net you a cool 100 smackers if your smooch of the stone is judged the most creative as a prelude to this March's First Ever Fifth Annual World's Shortest St. Patrick's Day Parade on Bridge Street in downtown Hot Springs.

The Arkansas Blarney Stone, a 7,000-pound chunk of beautifully weathered Arkansas sandstone, was installed last year outside the Horner Hall entrance to the Hot Springs Convention Center on Convention Boulevard.

"An impartial panel of judges will decide whose way of romancing the stone is worthy of a $100 cash prize on March 17," said Steve Arrison, CEO of the Hot Springs Convention and Visitors Bureau. "There will be no appeal from the judges' decision, and part of the qualification for being a judge is having a reputation for being full of blarney yourself."

Arrison said the stone-smooching would begin at 4:30 p.m., with a champion pucker being adjudicated before the 6:30 p.m. start of the parade just a half-block away on Bridge Street.

"There's no need to register or sign up," said Leysa Robertson, chair of the Stone Kissing Committee, "just show up at 4:30 with your lips on."

This year's parade will feature Mike Rowe, star of the "Dirty Jobs" TV show, as grand marshal and the tribute band Mini Kiss providing entertainment.

More than 15,000 people watched the 2007 parade, according to estimates. The annual event features floats, bands, marching units, clowns, Elvis impersonators, a pack of Irish wolfhounds and dozens of other offbeat entries in a parade that covers the 98 feet of Bridge Street, America's shortest street in everyday use.

There is also an all-green fireworks display and a pub crawl following the parade.

"We'll provide lip-wipes for the stone-smoochers," Arrison said of the Blarney Stone contest. "Extra credit will be given for creativity in kissing the rock."

Arrison said the huge moss-covered stone was donated to the St. Patrick's Day Parade Organizing Committee by Butch Bennett of Bennett Bros. Stone Company of Hot Springs.

"Butch has a touch of the blarney himself," Arrison said.

According to the legend of the original Blarney Stone in Ireland, anyone who kisses the stone receives the gift of eloquent speech.

Arrison said the Arkansas Blarney Stone is available for kissing at any time, day or night, for those who want to practice for their attempt to grab the cash prize on March 17.

For more information, contact Steve Arrison at 501-321-2027.

For information on entering a float or other entry in the parade call Leysa Robertson at 501-321-2027.

February 27, 2008   Posted in: United States Central