If you want to do St. Patrick’s Day right, look to New Jersey, where Irish is the most common ancestry after Italian. In the Garden State, we celebrate the St. Paddy tradition for the entire month of March and the festivities begin in the Meadowlands region.
On Saturday, March 4, head to Nutley or Hoboken and on Sunday, March 5, Rutherford has it happening.
While the parades in Nutley and Rutherford are handled, at the top level, by their respective Irish American Associations, Hoboken’s event, which was on hiatus for 10 years, is a first-year go for the Hoboken Business Alliance (HBA).
All of the events are complemented by deals and tie-ins from local merchants and organizations. In Nutley, the parade was given a leg-up by the local all-digital-newspaper, with a special section packed with ads. (Another win-win.)
We’ll update this section with new happenings as we learn of more. Send us your news and things to do in the Meadowlands: ccapitani@meadowlands.org
Rutherford
Organized by the Rutherford Irish American Association, the Rutherford St. Patrick’s Day Parade is Sunday, March 5, at 1 p.m., led by 2023 Grand Marshal Mark Dolaghan and Deputy Grand Marshal Michael Coyne.
Other parade dignitaries include:
- Member of the Year Tom Sharkey
- Law Enforcement Officer of the Year Christopher Connors of the Hasbrouck Heights Police Department
- Firefighter of the Year Brian Fitzhenry of the North Arlington Fire Department, who is also a former member of the St. Columcille United Gaelic Pipe Band and a North Arlington Councilman
- EMT of the Year Patrick O’Keefe of the Rutherford First Aid Ambulance Corps
The parade begins at Borough Hall on Park Avenue with the ceremonial raising of the Irish Tri-Color flag, following a Noon Mass at St. Mary Church, 91 Home Ave., Rutherford.
The parade ends on Ames Avenue with a post-party at the Elks Lodge, 48 Ames Ave. The Grille Room will be open with a cash bar and a food truck will be in the parking lot.
Nutley
Nutley is hosting its 44th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Saturday, March 4 at 1 p.m. from Holy Family parking lot, 28 Brookline Ave., following 10 a.m. Mass at St. Mary’s Church in Nutley.
The parade will be led by Grand Marshall Francis J. Costenbader and Deputy Grand Marshall Joseph McNish Jr. Other parade dignitaries include:
- Member of the Year Jo Ann Dunleavy
- Law Enforcement Officer of the Year Steven Plumer of the Belleville Police Department
- Parade Queen Allison Connor
A complimentary parade breakfast is being offered at 9 a.m. at Roscommon House, 531 Joralemon St., Belleville. Before and after-parade gatherings are indoors and outside, where there will be a heated tent.
Luna Wood Fire Tavern, 223 Franklin Ave., Nutley, is creating a special parade-day setup that offers a view of the parade, a heated tent, beer truck and more. Corned beef and cabbage will be on the menu, along with regular items.
A family-friendly post-parade party is planned at the Nutley Parks and Recreation Department building from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. Tickets at the door cost $30 for adults; $10 for youth 12 and under; free for children five and under.
Hoboken
The Hoboken Business Alliance (HBA) is hosting a St. Patrick’s Day event at noon on Saturday, March 4. The parade-like event features a float that will travel around the city led by the Bergen County Firefighters Pipe Band. Performances will take place in key locations by the New Jersey band The Shots. See full route and entertainment details here.
Around the state this weekend
Belmar/Lake Como is celebrating its 50th St. Patrick’s Day parade on Sunday, March 5 at 12:30 p.m., with more than 200 groups participating. The route starts on 22nd Avenue and Main Street in Lake Como, and heads north up Main Street through Belmar, ending at Sixth Avenue and Main Street.
