Coronavirus Forces Suffolk To Postpone St. Patrick's Day Parades

LONG ISLAND, NY — Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone announced Thursday that all St. Patrick's Day parades planned this weekend in the county would be delayed as the state grapples with increasing cases of the new coronavirus across Long Island.

"We have spoken with parade organizers and they have agreed to suspend these events," he tweeted after speaking to reporters Thursday. "At my direction, Suffolk County is suspending mass gathering permits, which include gatherings of more than 5,000 people."

The holiday falls on Tuesday, March 17 this year. That means several events were set for this upcoming weekend or the last two weekends in March. Boston and Dublin also canceled St. Patrick's Day parades due to the possibility of spreading COVID-19. New York City also canceled its parade.

On Long Island, the Glen Cove St. Patrick's Day Parade meant to take place Sunday, March 22 has already been canceled. In addition, both the Cutchogue St. Patrick's Day Parade and the Bay Shore's St. Patrick's Day parade, set to take place on Saturday, have been canceled.

The 2nd annual St. Patrick's Day parade in Wantagh, scheduled for March 22 has been postponed until July. Organizers of the 70th Annual Miller Place-Rocky Point St. Patrick's Day Parade, which was supposed to take place Sunday, also say the event will be postponed by did not schedule a day yet. The St. James parade scheduled for Saturday will also take place at a later date.

Patchogue officials have not officially canceled the St. Patrick's Day parade scheduled for March 22, but they are monitoring the situation before making any decisions. The Brentwood St. Patrick's Day parade is still scheduled to take place next week, but organizers of the 52nd annual event will also be monitoring the situation.

Click here for the full Long Island St. Patrick's Day parade guide.