(buoyant music) - Hi everybody!

I'm Mackenzie and today I'm in Hot Springs, Arkansas, for the world's shortest St. Paddy's Day parade, with my friend!

- This is Monte!

The world's largest leprechaun.

- [Mackenzie] And what's your part in the parade, Monte, what do you do?

- [Monte] I get out in the street and we do beads and the biggest thing, is to entertain everybody, just be zany and enjoy ourselves and get the crowd happy.

It's fun, - [Mackenzie] Absolutely!

they enjoy it, they get into it.

Our job is to get everybody charged up and ready to go.

I think probably the most fun, of this whole thing for me, is being out in that street and putting a smile on people's faces.

I mean, that's why they're here, to have a good time.

So we throw candy, we throw beads.

So that's my number one goal, is to make everybody happy and have a good time and smile.

(buoyant music continues) - [Mackenzie] St. Patrick's Day is celebrated on March 17th, all across the globe, to commemorate the honor of St. Patrick.

Most people associate this holiday with the country of Ireland, where St. Patrick's Day was started.

To celebrate Ireland and St. Patrick's Day, everything turns green.

Food is green, clothes are green, signs are green.

They even turn the water green in some places!

Many gigantic cities in the United States like, New York, Boston, and Chicago, celebrate St. Patrick's Day, with a huge parade, with tons of floats and attractions.

Thousands of people show up, to watch all the attractions, in a sea of green.

Well, in the tiny town of Hot Springs, Arkansas right in our own backyard, they like to do things, just a little differently.

This quiet town, situated in the heart of the Ouachita Mountains, holds a big surprise, in a small package.

That's because, every year for St. Patrick's Day, the city of Hot Springs, hosts the world's shortest St. Patrick's Day parade!

That's right, you heard me correctly, the world's shortest St. Patrick's Day parade.

Measuring at exactly 98 feet, the parade takes place on Bridge Street, one of the shortest municipal streets in the whole world.

And to make it official, the Guinness Book of World Records recognizes Hot Springs, as the official home of the world's shortest St. Patrick's Day parade.

The parade started 20 years ago and it only continues to get bigger and better every year.

The city of Hot Springs invites celebrities and larger than life characters, to usher in the holiday fun, including the world's largest leprechaun and his team of leprechaun buddies!

They help keep things festive and fun.

There's also loads of events for everyone, they have the Zero K Race, where costumed runners compete for best dressed, fastest runner and even slowest runner.

Or maybe you find yourself in the romancing of the Blarney Stone competition, where winners earn a top prize, for serenading the Blarney Stone.

Vendors from all over the state bring the flair, so you can show off your Irish green spirit.

Hit up the kiddie station, for all sorts of family fun.

Watch all the wonderful floats and attractions, that travel that short stretch, with fun and merriment and stay past dark, as musical guests close out each night.

St. Patrick's Day in Hot Springs is a once in a lifetime experience, so make sure to come next year, with your whole family and see for yourself.

- Yeah, I'm so happy to be here and get to talk to you all about it and I'll see you guys a little bit later, okay?

- Thank you, Monte.

- [Monte] My pleasure.

And thank you, so much for watching.

We'll see you next time, on "Rise and Shine!"