Jared Hoffmann
Winners of the Little Lad and Lassie contest held Saturday, March 3, at Finnigan’s Hall in North Kansas City were Tyler Uzynski, 6; Alyissa Kliensorge, 5; Corra Clawson, 4 and Brody Washam, 3. The four will be riding in convertibles during the Snake Saturday Parade on Saturday, March 10.
Join our Mailing List!
Please click the link below to sign up for your community paper mailing list. Stay up to date with all the events going on in your community as well as the latest news.Sign Up Today!
Young Northlanders awarded Little Lad and Lassie titles
Winners to be featured in Snake Saturday Parade
By: Jared Hoffmann
Though the Snake Saturday Parade will have its share of ornate floats and colorful pageantry, several children from across the Northland gathered at Finnigan’s Hall in North Kansas City on Saturday, March 3, to charm their way into the spotlight.
More than 25 kids competed in two categories of the Little Lad and Lassie competition, ages 2 to 4 and 5 to 7. During the competition, contestants danced, sang, played harmonicas and recited nursery rhymes before a panel of three judges, all hoping to solidify their spots on the back of convertibles that would roll past thousands of parade attendees.
Debbie Van Pelt-McEnroe, event coordinator, said the contestants were judged partially on talent but mainly on Irish spirit and overall personality. She said the overall goal was to allow children to have fun and potentially take part in the parade event.
“It’s not a beauty contest, and it’s not a talent contest,” Van Pelt-McEnroe said. “We’re mainly looking for children who look like they would be comfortable sitting on the back of a convertible waving. I don’t want a child who has an extremely talented mother or a child who has plenty of money and they could buy the world’s most expensive green outfit to have an advantage over a child who doesn’t have that luxury.”
Van Pelt-McEnroe said Snake Saturday was founded on the ideal of creating an atmosphere for families to enjoy St. Patrick’s Day. She said having the Little Lad and Lassie competition was a way to further involve families as well as foster community involvement.
“Snake Saturday, when it gets down to it, is really about helping the community,” Van Pelt-McEnroe said. “We also want to focus on children because parades are great for everybody, but especially for kids.”
Harry Baker, who had organized the parade for 19 years, founded the Little Lad and Lassie competition 19 years ago. Baker served as a master of ceremonies for the event and worked to amuse the children as they graced the stage in front of the crowded room, allowing them to feel comfortable amid the adoring gazes and constant camera flashes. He said the contest was created as a means of getting children involved with the festivities.
“We wanted to come up with a way to get the kids involved,” Baker said.
Staff writer Jared Hoffmann can be reached at 389-6636 or jaredhoffmann@npgco.com.
printable version
e-mail this story
More than 25 kids competed in two categories of the Little Lad and Lassie competition, ages 2 to 4 and 5 to 7. During the competition, contestants danced, sang, played harmonicas and recited nursery rhymes before a panel of three judges, all hoping to solidify their spots on the back of convertibles that would roll past thousands of parade attendees.
Debbie Van Pelt-McEnroe, event coordinator, said the contestants were judged partially on talent but mainly on Irish spirit and overall personality. She said the overall goal was to allow children to have fun and potentially take part in the parade event.
“It’s not a beauty contest, and it’s not a talent contest,” Van Pelt-McEnroe said. “We’re mainly looking for children who look like they would be comfortable sitting on the back of a convertible waving. I don’t want a child who has an extremely talented mother or a child who has plenty of money and they could buy the world’s most expensive green outfit to have an advantage over a child who doesn’t have that luxury.”
Van Pelt-McEnroe said Snake Saturday was founded on the ideal of creating an atmosphere for families to enjoy St. Patrick’s Day. She said having the Little Lad and Lassie competition was a way to further involve families as well as foster community involvement.
“Snake Saturday, when it gets down to it, is really about helping the community,” Van Pelt-McEnroe said. “We also want to focus on children because parades are great for everybody, but especially for kids.”
Harry Baker, who had organized the parade for 19 years, founded the Little Lad and Lassie competition 19 years ago. Baker served as a master of ceremonies for the event and worked to amuse the children as they graced the stage in front of the crowded room, allowing them to feel comfortable amid the adoring gazes and constant camera flashes. He said the contest was created as a means of getting children involved with the festivities.
“We wanted to come up with a way to get the kids involved,” Baker said.
Staff writer Jared Hoffmann can be reached at 389-6636 or jaredhoffmann@npgco.com.