By Eileen Moon
After two years of absent or subdued celebrations due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the bagpipes will be calling once again as Two River towns make an enthusiastic return to their traditional St. Patrick’s Day celebrations.
During the next two weekends, bagpipers, step dancers, drummers and flag twirlers will be marching along with the floats and fire trucks in Rumson, Middletown, Highlands and Keyport, as well as a little further afield in Asbury Park and Freehold.
The annual festivities celebrate residents’ connections to the Emerald Isle as they honor St. Patrick, the saint credited with bringing Christianity to Ireland and, as myth has it, driving the snakes out of that country, too.
After two years of a pandemic, driving the snakes out – in whatever form they appear – sounds like a very good idea.
According to the U.S. Census, just under 15 percent of New Jersey residents claim Irish heritage. Irish Americans represent the second largest ethnic group in the state after Italians, with a little more than 16 percent of state residents claiming Italian ancestry.
Monmouth County leads all the other counties in the state in the number of residents of Irish descent, with approximately 25 percent claiming Irish heritage.
But as the saying goes, everyone is Irish on St. Patrick’s Day and, whether Ireland is represented in your DNA or not, after two years of isolation, it’s high time to pass out the shamrocks and join the fun.
This Sunday, March 13, the Borough of Rumson will kick off its St. Patrick’s Day Parade at 1 p.m.
Founded in 2013, the parade quickly became a beloved town tradition, drawing some 4,000 spectators annually before the pandemic put the festivities on temporary hold. The annual event supports many area charities dedicated to making life better for those in need of a little community support. To date, the Rumson parade has generated more than $200,000 which has been distributed to 30 local organizations.
Proceeds from this year’s event will support Shore House, a Long Branch-based nonprofit that provides mental health services and support to New Jersey residents free of charge.
This year’s parade will honor longtime community member Charles Hill Jones as grand marshal.
Participants will gather on River Road near Allen Street for the 1-mile parade that ends at Carton Street and Forrest Avenue.
In Middletown, St. Mary Mother of God Parish and School will be hosting its first St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Celebration of Middletown Saturday, March 12 starting at 1 p.m.
Bagpipers, marching bands, Irish dancers and participants from police, fire, first aid and community groups will parade up Leonardville Road from Bayview Elementary School at 300 Leonardville Road to the St. Mary School campus at 538 Church St., where the afternoon festivities will include Gaelic sports games and clinics, live music, food and Irish products for sale.
After the parade, you may want to stop in at the Middletown Public Library, 55 New Monmouth Road, to enjoy a free performance of Irish music by the Cook College Ramblers from 3 to 4 p.m. March 12.
A week later, Sunday, March 19, the Highlands Business Partnership will host its St. Patrick’s Day Parade featuring more than 100 groups of pipers, dancers, floats and marching units starting at 2 p.m. The parade kicks off at Huddy Park on Waterwitch Avenue and travels up Bay Avenue toward Bahrs Landing. Grand marshals for the parade this year are Nancy Burton and Eileen Ricco, co-owners of Highlands Florist, In the Garden.
Further up the shore, the Keyport Fire Department will be starting its St. Patrick’s Day Parade at 1 p.m. Participants will march from Maple Avenue along Broad Street to Fireman’s Park, where a Battle of the Bands will take place after the parade.
Grand marshal for this year’s parade is George Strang.
While there won’t be a parade in Atlantic Highlands, there will be a special event to mark the day and honor a local resident. Shore Casino, a catering facility at the harbor, will open its doors at 6 p.m. Friday, March 18 for a St. Patrick’s Day celebration featuring a buffet, live bands and dancing in honor of owner Bernie Sweeney, who died recently at the age of 90.
Tickets for the event are $40 per person and may be reserved by calling 732-291-4300.
The article originally appeared in the March 10 – 16, 2022 print edition of The Two River Times.
