Crosslake safety commission reviews St. Patrick’s Day parade plans; members voice crowd-control concerns

Cindy Myogeto, director of the Crosslake Chamber of Commerce, told the Crosslake Public Safety Commission on Feb. 4, 2026, that the St. Patrick’s Day parade will use the same route as 2025 and that lineup will begin at 10 a.m. for sponsors and 11:30 a.m. for general participants. The parade start was moved to 1:15 p.m. because of a conflict with post-office mail pickup at 1:30 p.m.

Organizers said participants will remain in their vehicles on Swann Drive to keep the route clear for emergency access; fire trucks from neighboring agencies will park on Ostlund Avenue in a marked "red area," and judges will sit on the roundabout sidewalk apron. Myogeto noted the Legion typically leads and moves ahead of the main parade, so the bulk of participants usually do not reach the roundabout until about 1:30 p.m. "The parade should take last one hour," the record states.

Commissioner Rob Kniefel and others pressed organizers and staff about crowd control. Jake Maier said the biggest issue he foresees is crowd control and that he had contacted Crow Wing County Mounted Patrol and Pequot Lakes reserves but had not yet received responses. Chief Chip Lohmiller noted DNR officers assisted last year and said the drone team will attend this year; he emphasized that crowd control is generally the promoter’s responsibility.

Organizers said volunteers will help with minor crowd issues but that gates and barricades have proved of limited value in past years. Kara Schaeffer described the related Clover Dash events: a kids' run begins at 8:30 a.m. and the 5K at 9 a.m. near Whitefish at the Lakes; she asked for police or fire presence at the Co. Rd. 37/Co. Rd. 3 crossing and inquired about cones and plowing if weather requires it.

Commission members and organizers framed the event as one of the county’s largest tourist draws with a notable economic benefit to Crosslake. Organizers thanked the commission for assistance and said they will continue coordinating with county and neighboring agencies.