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What's going on with Bridge Street tonight, six months from now (UPDATED)
Updated: Sep 26, 2021
Today marks the halfway point to St. Patrick’s Day, which is kind of a big deal for Hot Springs due to the beloved World’s Shortest St. Patrick’s Day Parade being cancelled for the past two years because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The halfway point to the parade, hosted by Visit Hot Springs and held on Bridge Street, will be celebrated tonight at a free Bridge Street LIVE! Concert. But there’s more reason to celebrate. Just today, Visit Hot Springs announced Cheech Marin, who was supposed to serve as the Parade Grand Marshal in the cancelled parade of 2020, has been secured as the 2022 parade’s GM.
So tonight: cross your fingers the rain will hold off, mask up and come enjoy some free fun at the Glen Templeton concert on Bridge Street. There will be food, alcohol and product vendors — and most importantly there will be square dancing. The district opens at 5 p.m., square dancing at 5:30 p.m. and Templeton will take the stage at 7 p.m.
According to a VHS news release, Templeton, a native of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, is known for such country hits as “I Could Be the One,” “Sing That Song Again” and “Ball Cap.”
The Bridge Street LIVE! entertainment will continue September 24 with a return engagement by the Memphis Soul Revue, which was a hit in the June Bridge Street LIVE! series, the release said. Also that evening there will be KUHS DJ Terrence spinning house music and National Electric Car Week will bring in some electric cars for folks to check out.
And these concerts will just be a taste of the festivities to come March 17, 2022.
The planning of the First Ever 19th Annual World’s Shortest St. Patrick’s Day Parade is well underway, and the announcement of Marin’s appearance is the first of many to come. In the months ahead we’ll learn who the celebrity guest, musical act and various other parade guests will be — so stay tuned.
Update:
Compared to June's Bridge Street LIVE! Concert Series, a relatively small crowd turned out for last night's free Glen Templeton BSL! concert. Between the looks of likely rain and the Garland County Fair simultaneously going on up the road, this could have contributed to the lacking crowd.
But if you missed last night's performance, don't fret, there will be another chance for some free Bridge Street fun next Friday when Memphis Soul Revue returns to the district's stage as the last BSL! concert of the month. The jazz band from Memphis proved to be a big hit when delivering a high-energy and funky performance in the June concert series.
