St. Pat's Parade Set for Saturday in Morris County

This Saturday, March 14, everyone in Morris County is Irish.

One of Morris County’s biggest and best events of the year is set for South Street in Morristown, inviting tens of thousands of spectators to town to revel in the festivities.

The annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade is scheduled to begin march at noon, but not before more than an hour’s worth of pre-parade festivities.

More than 120 groups, including 20 bands and more than 4,000 marchers will take part in the annual event, drawing spectators from around the tri-state area.

Ed Broderick is the official starter of the parade, and has had his hands in the planning of the parade for the last quarter-century. The grand marshal this year is Al DeBenedictis, who is a member of the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick of Morris County, and has spent the last 24 years helping organize the parade.

• At 10:15 a.m. music will be provided by Willie Lynch and his Irish Band in front of the Presbyterian Church of Morristown on East Park Place.
• Introductory Ceremonies will then begin at 10:30 a.m. with the VFW Post 390 of Denville presenting its colors, followed by a 21-gun salute. The National Anthem will be sung by Kimberly Crossan.
• Morristown Mayor Tim Dougherty will then welcome everyone to celebrate the St. Patrick’s Day Parade, and music will continue until 11 a.m.
• A talk on the Irish Tradition of Storytelling will be presented by Drew University’s Doctoral Candidate of Irish Literature at 11 a.m.
• Fifth grade band students from Thomas Jefferson and Sussex Avenue Elementary schools will then perform at 11:15 a.m.
• The DeNogla School of Irish Dance will then perform at 11:30 a.m., and Willie Lynch will return to the stage at 11:45 a.m.
• At noon the parade will begin at the Morristown Municipal Building at 200 South Street and weave itself around the Morristown Green and down Washington Street.

The event is free and open to the public. Early forecasts for Saturday in Morristown show a 90-percent chance of rain and sleet during the day with a high temperature of 41 degrees. The parade has only been postponed twice in its 37-year history because of weather.

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