12 lively steppin’ Jersey St. Patrick’s Day parades
Are you in search of search of a Jersey St. Patrick’s Day parade with that something extra?
You might want to try the Asbury Park parade on March 13. They’ve had rock bands on floats, kazoo bands, bicycles from the city’s Second Hand Bikes, Mummers and zombies, too, in the past two years.
Oh my.
“We didn’t want it to be like the other parades in the area,” said parade founder Garrett Giberson, also a city fire official. “We wanted a fun, family-oriented parade that would showcase what Asbury Park is known for, and that’s music.”
Tell us where you eat, drink on St. Patrick's Day
In the past two parades, the Lakehouse Music Academy; Asbury Lanes; Sammy Boyd Productions (featuring the Weeklings with Glen Burtnik); the Stone Pony and Wonder Bar (combined into one); and the Saint nightclub have rolled out floats with bands on them. We didn’t have a list of participants for this year’s parade at press time, but we expect most of them to return.
The Asbury Park Press is one of the sponsors of the parade, which debuted in 2014. It steps off at 4th and Ocean avenues, heads south, then makes a right up Cookman Avenue until it finally winds up at Main Street and Bangs Avenue.
“I tried to plant the seed for years so someone else would go with it,” Giberson said. “I never thought of taking on this task, but three years later I’m still doing it. It’s gratifying to see people come into our city and really enjoy themselves. It’s gratifying seeing the businesses do so well.”
The Asbury Park parade is one of the newer ones in the state. The Belmar and Lake Como parade, which takes place March 6, is the oldest at the Jersey Shore. The Belmar parade started in 1974 and it’s always the first Sunday in March.
About 100,000 will make the scene on a nice day.
“When Belmar started the parade, the Newark parade was the biggest in the state and West Orange still had a parade at that point but there weren’t any at the Shore,” said Chip Cavanaugh, chairman of the Belmar parade. “Back then, there weren’t as many people living down here full time. Now, a lot of people are staying here year around.”
Jersey Shore singing legend Bobby Byrne and parade supporter Martha Ann McDonough Finan are the Grand Marshal and Deputy Grand Marshal, respectively. New Jersey Transit usually adds extra trains for North Jersey Coast line between Long Branch and Bay Head for the Belmar parade day. Visit www.njtransit.com for more information.
A new addition this year is the Princeton University Band, Cavanaugh said.
“That’s going to be something different,” Cavanaugh said. “I’ve seen them march in a couple of other parades and they’re good.”
A bit south from Belmar is the Ocean County parade in Seaside Heights on March 12. “Cead mile failte” is their motto — that means a hundred thousand welcomes in Gaelic.
“It’s really the kickoff to the tourism season,” said Denis Kelly, chairman of the Ocean County parade.
The parade brings in 75,000 to Seaside Heights and Seaside Park. Take care to start out early if you’re coming in from the west. The Seaside Heights Mathis Bridge has only one lane open heading into Seaside and no oversized vehicles are allowed.
The road will rise you meet you, just start out earlier than usual this year.
There’s always a big turnout in South Amboy, where this year’s parade is 2 p.m. on March 12. Richie Moran is this year’s Grand Marshal.
“There is no parade without Richie,” posted parade chairman Michael “Mickey” Gross on the parade’s website. “He has been the back bone of this organization for numerous years and the big-toe when needed. I, for one, always knew when I did something wrong. Richie would first fix it and then make sure I did not make the same mistake again.”
There are parades all month long, so don’t make the mistake of missing out on the fun. Below is a roundup of parades of note. When you see us, give us a big smile — everybody in New Jersey is Irish in the month of March.
Belmar and Lake Como
WHEN: 12:30 p.m. March 6
DETAILS: The king of the New Jersey St. Patrick’s Day parades ramps up for its 2016 edition. The parade starts in Lake Como, then heads north up Main Street through Belmar and it’s a biggie with more than 5,500 marchers and 40 bands.
INFO: www.belmarparade.com
Ocean County (Seaside Heights)
WHEN: Noon March 12
DETAILS: The parade steps off noon on the Boulevard at J Street in Seaside Park. The Seaside Heights Mathis Bridge has only one lane open heading into Seaside and no oversized vehicles are allowed, so start out early..
INFO: oceancountysaintpatricksdayparade.com
Morris County (Morristown)
WHEN: Noon March 12
DETAILS: John Hyland, a long-time treasurer for the parade, is this year’s Grand Marshal. He was selected Grand Marshal last year but had to defer because health reasons, according to the parade website. It’s a family affair each year at the Morris County parade, with approximately 70,0000 folks coming out for fun — without the alcohol.
The parade begins at noon at the corner of South and James streets, and proceeds along South Street to Atno Avenue. The day begins with Mass at 10 a.m. at the Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, 91 Maple Ave. in Morristown.
INFO: paradeday.com
Keyport
WHEN: 1 p.m. March 12
DETAILS: The Grand Marshal this year is Bob Strang and Deputy Grand Marshal is Jackie Caddle. The parade starts at St. Joseph’s Church, travels over the overpass to West 4th Street, continues down Maple Place, turns left at Broad Street heading to the water, turns left at West Front Street and finishes at Fireman’s Park across from the Keyport Fishery.
INFO: keyportonline.com
Union County
WHEN: 1 p.m. March 12
DETAILS: They call it New Jersey’s fastest growing family-oriented parade. The marchers go down Morris Avenue to Roosevelt Avenue with a reviewing stand at Morris and Caldwell in Union Township. The New Jersey Hall of Fame Traveling Museum will be stopping by, too.
INFO: unioncountystpatricksdayparade.com
South Amboy
WHEN: 2 p.m. March 12
DETAILS: Richie Moran, a behind the scenes fella who’s made the South Amboy parade go for many years, is this year’s Grand Marshal, and Woodbridge Mayor McCormac is the Honorary Grand Marshal Look for more than 70 marching units, including 20 bands, social groups, fraternal organizations, fire departments and first aid squads from the area as they line up on South Pine Avenue and head toward Broadway. The rain date is March 19.
INFO: southamboyparade.com
Freehold
WHEN: Noon March 13
DETAILS: A shortie but a goodie. It’s only a couple of hundred feet down West Main Street then a dinner and dance party with the Pat Roddy Band at the Freehold Elks Lodge.
INFO:www.facebook.com/FreeholdStPatricksDayParade
Rumson
WHEN: 1 p.m. Sunday, March 13
DETAILS: This year’s grand marshal is Jack C. Howley, a member of the Rumson parade board. The parade heads east, towards the ocean, on River Road. More than 7,000 came out last year, according to parade organizers, and this is one fast growing parade.
INFO: rumsonstpatricksdayparade.org
Asbury Park
WHEN: 1 p.m. March 13
DETAILS: Music, Mummers and zombies — you don’t know what to expect in this quirky, new Jersey Shore St. Patrick’s Day parade. The step off is at 4th and Ocean next to the boardwalk and the marching heads downtown from there.
INFO: asburyparkstpatricksparade.com
Woodbridge
WHEN: 1:30 p.m. March 13
DETAILS: The theme is this year’s parade is 100 years of Irish Independence. The Grand Marshal is Jack Wall and Miss American Irish is Kylie Cahill The parade steps off at Woodbridge High School at Route 35 and Freeman Street and proceeds downtown, winding up at town hall. There will be lots to enjoy as there are more than 100 marching units and pipe bands, making the parade one of the largest in the state.
INFO: www.amerirish.com
Somerville
WHEN: 1:30 p.m. March 13
DETAILS: If it’s the Sunday before St. Patrick’s Day, it’s time for the Somerville parade. Musician and founding member of the Somerset County Ancient Order of Hibernians Willie Lynch is the parade Grand Marshal.
INFO: somervillesaintpatricksparade.com
Highlands
WHEN: 2 p.m. Saturday, March 19
DETAILS: There will be nearly 100 marching units including bagpipers, marching bands, Irish dancers, and floats. The 2016 Grand Marshals are Joan Wicklund, a former educator and owner of the Sand Dollar Gift Shop on Bay Avenue, and community standout Rosemary Ryan.
INFO: www.highlandsnj.com
Chris Jordan: cjordan@app.com