The St. Patrick’s parade is one of Hoboken’s great traditions, and for one day everyone in the mile-square city is Irish. Families, clad in green from head to toe, will line Washington Street on March 2 to get a glimpse of the bands and festivities as they parade through the city.
In Hoboken, the parade is traditionally held two weeks before the day that actually commemorates the saint. Organizers of the parade say that moving up the annual event allows them the hire the best bands in the region. If the parade was March 16, the same day as the event in New York City, the bands would most likely be marching in Manhattan or at some other major event.
“It’s an event that honors the Irish residents of Hoboken,” said official parade starter and Hoboken resident Billy Noonan Wednesday night. “It’s one of the busiest days of the year for local businesses, especially taverns and restaurants. But more importantly, it’s nice to see the streets lined with kids and their families.”
Leading the parade, which begins at 1 p.m., will be this year’s grand marshal, Hudson County Freeholder Maurice Fitzgibbons. “It’s become one of the great events of the city as well as the county, and is one of the best parades in the state,” said Fitzgibbons, who lives in Hoboken and owns a public relations firm based in Jersey City. “In all of my public career, this is quite possibly the biggest honor that I have received. I’m looking forward to it because it puts my family name into the historic anneals of the city.”
According to parade organizer and Hoboken resident Helen Cunning, the parade will have over a dozen bands. Including five of the northeast’s best bagpipe groups, four high school bands and several fife-and-drum troupes. The bands will be joined by representatives from city and area fire and police departments, including one fire company from New York City.
Cunning and an army of volunteers run the parade without spending a single taxpayer dollar. The bulk of the money necessary is raised at an annual Irish dinner party. This year’s party raised over $15,000 for the event.
“[Parade day] is one of the busiest days of the year for the city,” said Cunning Tuesday. “So many volunteers work so hard to make this happen and they always do such a great job.”
Also marching in this year’s parade will be Irish Woman of the Year Sister Mary Fallon, the principal of the Academy of the Sacred Heart, which is currently in its 50th year of service.
“I’m very happy to display my heritage and delighted to do it in Hoboken,” said Sister Mary Wednesday. She is a member of the National Catholic Education Association, the National Association, and New Jersey Counselors Association.
Joining Fallon will be Donald “Red” Barrett, who will be serving as this year’s Irishman of the Year. A lifelong Hoboken resident, Barrett has made many friends in the mile-square city. “Within a few short years, I have gotten to know Red through the magical green backpack he carries with him wherever he goes,” said friend Michelle O’Keefe in a written tribute to Barrett. “Much like Mary Poppins’ suitcase, this bottomless backpack contains a plethora of photos, newspaper clippings, humorous birthday cards from years gone by, menus from favorite restaurants, poetry, letters, catalogs; all documenting a lifetime of memories. And as I sit along for the ride, it’s not hard to be utterly charmed, as he tells each story with pride humor and passion.”
The parade, which begins at 1 p.m. on March 2, will run the length of Washington Street and will conclude at a reviewing stand in front of City Hall.