The Village of Mamaroneck has played host to a variety of festive parades in years past, including the annual Memorial Day celebration, fireman's procession and, more recently, a village-wide event to honor local X Factor celebrity Carly Rose Sonenclar.
And, for the second year in a row, the village will host the Sound Shore St. Patrick’s Day Parade, which, in 2012, attracted approximately 10,000 revelers and 2,500 participants, all of whom were collectively celebrating the life of Ireland's patron saint.
Though St. Patrick's Day parades can be infamous for their rowdiness—the Hoboken, NJ mayor banned the city's annual parade in 2012, calling it a "puke-fest and drunk-fest" in the NY Times—the Mamaroneck parade is far from that. Last year, kids and their parents could be seen decked out in green t-shirts, oversized hats and shamrock headbands as they excitedly watched the procession walk down Mamaroneck Avenue.
This year, the Sound Shore St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee will be donating two $2,500 college scholarships to high school seniors from Harrison, Larchmont, Mamaroneck, New Rochelle, Pelham, Port Chester or Rye who are involved with Irish charities or community organizations.
According to Committee Co-Chair Tania McMenamin, the organization raised enough money through a charity golf outing and silent auction (organized by Co-Chair Kevin O'Shea) to be able to contribute to a scholarship fund for students.
"When our parade was founded last year, one of our primary goals was to establish ourselves as a 501 (3)(c) not-for-profit organization that would give back to the community," she said.
And, the time and date are different this year. The parade will start at 1:30 p.m. on St. Patrick's Day proper, March 17.
"This may be a unique event in and of itself because we would never go up against the iconic New York City St. Patrick’s Day Parade, and the only time that event is not held on March 17 is when St. Patrick’s Day falls on a Sunday," said McMenamin, adding that the NYC parade will be held on March 16 this year.
The Parade will start at Mamaroneck and Gertrude Avenues, near Mamaroneck Avenue Elementary School, at 1:30 p.m. Assembled groups will then march southeast down Mamaroneck Avenue, culminating in Harbor Island Park. James P. Hynes, a principal at Hynes Capital Resources, will lead the parade as this year's Grand Marshal, and County Executive Rob Astorino will be marching as well.
Confirmed participants include Police Emerald Society of Westchester Pipes and Drums, O’Rourke Irish Dancers, DSNY Emerald Society Pipes and Drums, Knights of Columbus, Iona College Pipe Band, NYPD Emerald Society Pipes and Drums, Senator George Latimer, Manhattan College Pipe Band, Lynn Academy of Irish Dance, Cardinal Hayes High School Marching Band, Westchester Brassmen, many local fire departments and Girl Scout troops, Westchester and District Pipes and Drums, and The Saints Brigade Pipes and Drums Band. Sponsors of the event include Henegan Construction, GCG Inc., and Guinness Brewery.
"Our parade was such a huge success last year that we fully expect to have an even bigger turnout this St. Patrick’s Day," said McMenamin.
For additional information on the parade or to apply for the scholarships, please visit the Committee's website here.
Also in the region, Pearl River has its St. Patrick's Day Parade in nearby Rockland County. The parade is recognized as one of the largest outside of New York City.
