The First Ever World's Shortest St. Patrick's Day Parade Committee unveiled the newest addition to the parade family, Hoddy O'Springs, on Wednesday.
People who attended the First Ever 11th Annual World's Shortest St. Patrick's Day Parade in 2014 will remember Lucky the Leprechaun, who visited the as a special guest, but Visit Hot Springs Director of Marketing Chrissy Egleston said he could only stay for a month.
"He had a great time and he invited his cousin to look at the pictures," Steve Arrison, CEO of Visit Hot Springs, said during a news conference at the Hot Springs Convention Center. "The cousin moved here and we had a big naming contest that was held on the Internet, and a lot of names were submitted so that's the purpose of why we're here today -- to unveil the new mascot and his name."
Hoddy O'Springs said his cousin "wouldn't stop -- pardon the pun -- gushing about Hot Springs," which influenced his decision to make the move.
"Not only is the Shortest St. Patrick's Day Parade the best one in the world, but there's plenty of fun to be had year-round," the mascot said during Wednesday's tongue-in-cheek event.
The mascot considers himself a lucky individual, but when asked if he would join the parade committee on a trip to Oaklawn Racing & Gaming, he gave no comment. However, when March 17 rolls around, Hoddy O'Springs has a few things he hopes to cross off his bucket list.
"There are three things I want to do," the mascot said. "To high-five Mark Martin, get on stage with the Swon Brothers, and steal a kiss from a Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader."
To help welcome Hoddy O'Springs to the Spa City, the mascots from Lake Hamilton, Lakeside, Hot Springs and Cutter Morning Star high schools, Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences, and the Arts, and Polly from the Purple Cow restaurant were in attendance.
"We asked the great mascots who joined us today if they would give some advice to our new mascot, Hoddy, and I think they wrote them all down, because I don't think any of them can speak," Arrison said.
The Lakeside Ram and Hot Springs Trojan invited Hoddy O'Springs to check out their schools' teams, while Wolfie the Lake Hamilton mascot let him know that "if you see three little pigs around, they're mine."
The Cutter Morning Star Eagle offered "a bird's-eye view" while ASMSA's Cyborg the Dolphin said "we have some folks that are really good with numbers if you need to break down the 98 feet (of Bridge Street) a little more."
Last but not least, Polly from The Purple Cow questioned the new mascot's tastes offering a purple milkshake in place of his traditional "corned beef and cabbage."
Arrison thanked everyone in attendance to welcome the new mascot adding that "we're happy to have Hoddy O'Springs in Hot Springs National Park, Arkansas."
Local on 03/05/2015