Denise Ferrie will lead annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade
The St. Patrick’s Day Extravaganza Committee has named Denise Ferrie as Grand Marshal of the 2024 St. Patrick’s Day Parade. The event will be Saturday, March 16 through downtown Sioux Falls. Ferrie will lead up to 100 parade entries in the annual “people’s parade” celebrating Irish heritage.
Denise Ferrie’s Irish roots reach far back into Glencolumcille, in County Donegal, Ireland. The community is often described as a living history museum that provides insights into the country’s past.
Ferrie’s grandmother, Ann Cannon, and mother, Rose Cannon Dunn, were born in Glencolumcille and she still has many relatives living there. Ferrie has visited her homeland four times. In 2018 she and a sister, Maggie, got together with about 20 cousins and spouses. One cousin brought them to the home that has been in the family 400 years. “Every time I have gone to Glencolumcille, it was like our mother was with us,” said Ferrie.
Ferrie and her husband, Terry, moved to Sioux Falls, his hometown, in 1978. She soon was involved in private banking and the trust department at Norwest Bank and its successor, Wells Fargo. Her career concluded as office manager for Elgethun Capital Management. Terry and Denise have two daughters, Andrea McIntyre and Colleen Ferrie. They were involved in the burgeoning soccer community, both as coaches and leaders in the organization. They also were active in the Cathedral of St. Joseph and Cathedral School. Denise also served for 23 years as a eucharistic minister at Avera Health.
The annual St. Patrick’s Day parade brings the regional community together to celebrate. Anyone can participate in the parade, but registration is required and each person must wear an official St. Patrick’s parade button, which costs $3. Registration closes March 6.
Buttons are available in advance at 605 Running Company, the Cookie Jar Eatery and other downtown businesses. They also can be purchased the day of the parade at the start of the parade. St. Francis House, a non-profit agency that ministers to the homeless, will be selling buttons and receives a portion of button sales.
Buttons are available in advance at 605 Running Company, the Cookie Jar Eatery and other downtown businesses. They also can be purchased the day of the parade at the start of the parade. St. Francis House, a non-profit agency that ministers to the homeless, will be selling buttons and receives a portion of button sales.
Expenses for the parade are deferred through contributions from sponsors: Avera Health, Sanford Health, First PREMIER Bank, Security National Bank, The First National Bank in Sioux Falls, Cutler Law Firm, LLP; Boyce Law Firm, LLP; Hagen, Wilka & Archer LLP; Davenport Evans Law Firm; Dakota Beverage Company; and Lloyd Companies.
Other St. Patrick’s Day activities include:
- The traditional painting of the shamrock will take place at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 16, in front of The First National Bank in Sioux Falls.
- The Vanguard Squadron will have a flyby at the start of the parade, weather permitting.
- The falls of the Big Sioux River will be lit green on March 16 and 17.
- The Lucky 7’s will host a one mile, five mile and 5K run on parade day.
