Volunteers Prepare Thousands of Beads for Hot Springs St. Patrick's Day Parade

George Dooley and his team work to ensure smooth bead distribution for annual celebration

Mar. 12, 2026 at 9:04am

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For the past 20 years, George Dooley has been helping to prepare the thousands of beads that are thrown by celebrities and parade royalty during Hot Springs' annual Shortest St. Patrick's Day Parade. Dooley and his team bundle the beads into manageable bundles to prevent tangling, and coordinate the distribution of the beads to the parade participants to ensure an orderly and enjoyable event for spectators.

Why it matters

The Shortest St. Patrick's Day Parade is a major annual event for Hot Springs, drawing large crowds and serving as an important economic driver for the city. Dooley's behind-the-scenes work in managing the parade's signature bead throwing helps ensure the success of the event, which has grown larger each year under the leadership of Visit Hot Springs CEO Steve Arrison.

The details

Dooley and his team bundle the approximately 40,000 beads into groups of 75 or 100, depending on the size and shape of the beads, to prevent tangling. They also provide instructions to the "bead wranglers" who will assist the celebrities and parade royalty in distributing the beads to the crowd. The wranglers help "feed the clients" by placing the bundled beads on the celebrities' arms so they can easily throw them to spectators. Dooley's team also coordinates with the parade participants to ensure the beads are distributed evenly along the parade route.

  • About 20 years ago, Dooley first got involved in preparing the beads for the parade.
  • Earlier this week, Dooley and his team separated the beads into bundles.
  • On parade day, the bead wranglers will assist the celebrities and parade royalty in distributing the beads.

The players

George Dooley

A long-time volunteer who has been helping prepare the beads for the Shortest St. Patrick's Day Parade in Hot Springs for the past 20 years.

Steve Arrison

The CEO of Visit Hot Springs, who has been a driving force behind the parade and its growth over the years.

Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders

One of the celebrity groups that will be throwing beads during the parade, distributing blue football helmet-shaped beads.

Carmen Electra

A celebrity who will be throwing heart-shaped beads during the parade.

Dan Hampton

A former NFL player who will be throwing orange football helmet-shaped beads with the parade royalty and other celebrities.

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What they’re saying

“He goes, 'Man, we've got a problem with the beads. They're tangling up,'”

— George Dooley

“We'll have about 22 of them that will assist the celebrities that are here. What we end up doing is giving instruction prior to — mainly safety — and end up telling them how to 'feed the clients.'”

— George Dooley

“But the reason we do it, it's a lot of fun — a lot of work, a lot of fun, supporting Hot Springs. That's why we're doing it. It's all about drawing people here and having a good time.”

— George Dooley

What’s next

With the upcoming retirement of Steve Arrison as CEO of Visit Hot Springs at the end of the year, it will be important to see who is hired to take his position and continue the success of the Shortest St. Patrick's Day Parade.

The takeaway

Through the dedicated efforts of volunteers like George Dooley, the Shortest St. Patrick's Day Parade in Hot Springs has become a beloved annual tradition that brings the community together and attracts visitors from across the region, showcasing the city's unique charm and spirit.