Northside Parade celebrates Lafayette High School

ST. JOSEPH, Mo (KQTV) -- The Northside Neighborhood Watch Association hosted a celebration event to honor a local school changing course at the end of the year.

The Northside Parade started at Middleton and Maple Wood Parkway and made its way all the way up St. Joseph Avenue to Krug Park on Saturday morning.

The parade was held to celebrate and remember Lafayette High School before the school becomes a Middle School next year.

Several current students and alumni gathered on St. Joseph Avenue at 10 a.m. to watch local businesses and school organizations hand out candy and come together as a part of Lafayette High School.

"It's a pretty special event for us, and it brings everyone out," Shatarra McDonald, Lafayette Cheerleading coach, said. "It shows the Irish Spirit, even though they're closing our school, we still come together for one last moment."

The parade featured over 25 different organizations and businesses from across St. Joseph.

"My kids went to Lafayette, my parents went to Lafayette, and I taught at Lafayette for over 20 years," Jeff Leake, Lafayette alumnus, said. "It's just a part of my life and part of my family. And it is that for so many people."