Ralph Macchio named grand marshal for World’s Shortest St. Patrick’s Day Parade

ralph-macchio-headshot-jpg-3
ralph-macchio-headshot-jpg-3

The Karate Kid is going to put some real kick in the First Ever 16th Annual World’s Shortest St. Patrick’s Day Parade® in downtown Hot Springs National Park, Arkansas, on March 17, 2019.

Ralph Macchio, who became a movie icon with his unforgettable performance as Daniel Larusso in the 1984 classic, “The Karate Kid,” starring in a famous pairing with Pat Morita as Mister Miyagi, will be the celebrity grand marshal for the internationally publicized parade along 98-foot Bridge Street.

“Ralph Macchio remains a huge star in Hollywood, with his current ‘Cobra Kai’ TV series on Sony Pictures Television, and he will delight fans from three generations as our celebrity grand marshal,” said Steve Arrison, CEO of Visit Hot Springs and one of the founders of the now-famous St. Patrick’s Day Parade. “He continues our unbroken string of popular grand marshals as our little parade continues to generate interest in Hot Springs as a place where exciting things are always happening.”

Stephen “tWitch” Boss, Ellen DeGeneres’ favorite DJ and “So You Think You Can Dance” star, was announced in August as the 2019 parade’s official starter.

With an extensive list of film credits, Ralph Macchio is best known for his celebrated performance as “Johnny” in Frances Ford Coppola’s, “The Outsiders”; the hit film, “My Cousin Vinny,” costarring along with Joe Pesci and Marisa Tomei; and most notably for the title role in the popular classic, “The Karate Kid,” and its successors, “The Karate Kid Part II” and “The Karate Kid Part III.”

He reprises his iconic role of Daniel LaRusso in the critically acclaimed series, “Cobra Kai,” for Sony Pictures Television and YouTube Red. The 10-part first season was released on YouTube Red in May, and the series was recently renewed for a second season slated for release in 2019.  He also plays Officer Haddix in HBO’s hit series, “The Deuce,” which returns to HBO this month.

In 2011, Macchio became an instant fan-favorite on “Dancing With the Stars,” where he enjoyed a long successful run on the ABC Blockbuster competition show.

The World’s Shortest St. Patrick’s Day Parade®, which began in 2003, annually attracts upwards of 30,000 people to the city’s historic downtown district.

The official announcement of Macchio as the 2019 parade’s celebrity grand marshal was made Monday, September 17th at a Pop Up Pub Pop Up Party on the Plaza Lawn of the Hot Springs Convention Center to mark the halfway point between the 2018 parade and the 2019 edition.

The parade annually attracts huge throngs to watch an insanely zany collection of marchers, strutters, dancers, waddlers and floats cover the 98-foot length of Bridge Street in the heart of downtown Hot Springs.

For more information call Bill Solleder at 501-321-2027.