Get ready to shake your shamrocks at Hoboken’s annual St. Patrick’s Day parade, which is set for this Saturday, March 3 at 1 p.m. This is the 20th year for the festivities, which start at the corner of 14th and Washington streets. They precede the actual St. Pat’s Day by two weeks, so that Hoboken can get the best bands and performers.
Grand Marshal Sean Hession, who is the well-known owner of Willie McBride’s and Busker’s Bar & Grill in Hoboken, will lead the parade as it heads down Washington Street to City Hall.
Thousands of people pack the mile-square city for the parade and the all-day festivities at the local bars and restaurants. Whether you are Irish or just Irish for the day, this annual event is fun for everyone.
Hoboken tradition
According to Helen Cunning, one of the founders of the Hoboken St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee, this parade will be one of the largest in their 20-year history. “I think it is going to be a great parade,” said Cunning.
Helen’s father Edward Tom Cunning initially started the parade committee, which was then called “Helen Cunning & Friends,” in 1986. According to Cunning, the first parade in 1987 was relatively small with only 7 or 8 bands playing. This year there are 18 bands marching.
Several of the bands, like the County Cork Pipe Band and the Staten Island Pipers, have been performing in Hoboken since the parade started. New this year is the Woodland String Band from Philadelphia.
“We have 20 percent more [bands] than last year,” said Cunning. “We are really excited about that.”
Pipes, drumbeats, and floats
Grand Marshal Sean Hession and the “Irishman of the Year” Captain Kenneth Metcalfe will lead the parade down Washington Street promptly at 1 p.m. The Port Authority’s Pipe Band will kick off the music with traditional pipes. In addition to the bands, there are several floats including: The Hoboken Ski Club, The Leukemia Society, the Hoboken parade committee and more.
The Sisters of Charity, who are originally from the Sacred Heart School in Hoboken, were honored as “Irish Women of the Year” and will march as well.
Also rolling down Washington Street are the Garden City Roller Girls.
The Grand Marshal
Restaurateur Sean Hession was thrilled that he was elected grand marshal this year. For 10 years, Hession has helped the parade committee and has hosted the committee’s breakfast on parade morning at his Irish pub/restaurant Willie McBride’s on Grand Street.
Hession was the nominated by one of the former parade grand marshals.
“It’s definitely an honor and a privilege,” said Hession.
In order to be nominated, the person has to be of Irish descent. Hession is first generation Irish and was born in County Mayo.
“It’s a bonus when you are born in Ireland,” said Hession.
Hession first came to the states in 1986 and settled in North Jersey. Before he opened either of his two successful bars in Hoboken, Hession first worked in construction. Sean is one of seven brothers and sisters. Two of his sisters and one brother also live in the States, yet none of his siblings are in the restaurant business.
Hession said that even as a young man he thought about opening his own pub.
“I always had it in the back of my mind,” said Hession. “We had our own little concept going and started from scratch.”
A little bit of home
When Hession and his wife Maura, who were then Hoboken residents, had the opportunity to buy a bar in Hoboken, they jumped at the chance even though they were told that Grand Street was off the main strip. They purchased the Holiday Inn in 1995 and only six months later opened Willie McBride’s in May of 1996. It comes as no surprise to those who know Hession that he did all the work on the bar himself.
Hession said that he learned the value of hard work from his parents.
“[They taught me] the value of hard work and to be honest with people,” said Hession. “They were both hard workers. Right up until the end [my father] worked seven days a week.” He added, “They also taught me to be fair with people. I still believe in that.”
According to Sean, they essentially gutted the space and he and his crew did all the renovations, including the stone work in the floors and the bricks on the wall.
The spacious two-room and two floor bar and restaurant looks similar to pubs folks can see in Ireland, and offers scrumptious entrees, besides the regular pub fare.
“I definitely modeled it after the pubs in Ireland,” said Hession, “without a doubt.”
Hession said that every time he goes home for a visit he brings back something Irish to decorate the place. The authentic Irish signs and memorabilia add to the charm of the place.
McBride’s is home to several local dart teams, the Hoboken Ski Club, and offers live bands every weekend. The success of McBride’s allowed Sean and his wife Maura to also purchase Busker’s Bar & Grill in 2003. With Busker’s, located on the corner of First and Bloomfield streets, they wanted to focus more on fine dining.
On parade day, Hession plans to open both his places at 11 a.m.
And…
Willie McBride’s and Busker’s are just two of the fine Irish pubs in Hoboken. Hoboken is home to dozens of bars and restaurants that will be decked out in green in honor of the annual parade. This year many of the bars in Hoboken will not open their doors until 11 a.m. so everyone can enjoy the parade at 1 p.m.
There will be a heavy police presence on Saturday and zero tolerance toward drunk or rowdy behavior.
Major Roberts, the Hoboken Police Department, and the hospitality industry ask that residents and guests alike respect the town and the businesses so that everyone can have a safe and happy holiday.