St. Patrick's Celebrations to Boost Irish Heritage This Year

Before the official March 17 celebration of St. Paddy's Day, get ready for a host of Irish-themed events topped off by Hackettstown's biggest annual event.

The Hackettstown Business Improvement District is the power behind the parade, which organizers say has attracted more than 14,000 visitors over the years. The St. Patrick's Parade will take to the streets Sunday, March 16.

But the Erin-go-fun starts much earlier: On Friday, March 7 at 7 p.m., Grand Marshal Denis O’Rourke is feted with a gala reception at David’s Country Inn. For more information and reservations, go to www.hackettstownBID.com

And on Saturday, March 15, the  Centenary Stage Company presents Lúnasa, internationally acknowledged as the finest Irish instrumental band of recent times. Showtime is 8 p.m. at the David & Carol Lackland Center.  For more information, go to www.centenarystageco.org.

The main event, however, is the parade, which kicks off at 3:30 p.m. on March 16. More than 70 groups are participating, including Irish bands, community groups, bagpipe and drum units, Centenary College organizations, fire departments, rescue squads and hometown favorites such as the Junior and Senior Colonial Musketeers and the Hackettstown Community Band. 

The theme of the second annual Float Contest is St. Patrick and Irish Heritage.  There will also be a reprise of a St. Patrick and Irish Heritage costume contest for pets.

Parade sponsors so far include Centenary College, official car sponsor Johnson Dodge, Fulton Bank of NJ, First Hope Bank, Maser Consulting, State Farm Insurance, Bea McNally’s, House of the Good Shepherd, Marley’s Gotham Grill, Global Waste Industries and WRNJ Radio. 

Any group or individual interested in participating in the parade as a marcher, volunteer or sponsor, is asked to visit the Hackettstown BID website: www.hackettstownbid.com.

Bands and Dancers Scheduled to Appear:

• Aqua String Band
• Colonial Musketeers Junior Ancient Fife and Drum Corps
• Colonial Musketeers Senior Ancient Fife and Drum Corps
• Dance Expressions
• Endean Academy of Irish Dance
• The Peter Smith School of Irish Dance
• Slattery School of Irish Dancing
• Lehigh Valley Cloggers
• Bonnie Brae School Knights Drum Corp
• Quaker City String Band
• Rampant Lion Pipe Band
• Hackettstown Community Band
• Police Pipes & Drums of Morris County
• Rory O'Moore Pipes and Drums
• The Guard - Pipes and Drums