(March 10, 2016) Ocean City’s 35th annual St. Patrick’s Day parade, which has grown to become the second largest in Maryland, will take place this Saturday.
The Delmarva Irish-American Club sponsors the highly anticipated tradition, which will start at noon, March 12, on 57th Street and continue south along Coastal Highway to the 45th Street shopping center where spectators will find a huge party along with the judges’ stand.
“It is the kickoff to the season,” said Buck Mann, parade coordinator. “People who have indoor fever, this is the first big outdoor party. It will be a fun day.”
The Irish festival on 45th Street will begin at 11 a.m. with green beer, Irish entertainment featuring music by Pat O’Brennan, Irish step dancers, face painting, Irish stew, and of course, corned beef sandwiches. The festival will conclude around 3 p.m., although the party will continue all evening in restaurants and bars throughout Ocean City.
“It seems like everyone is Irish on the day of the St. Patrick’s Day parade in Ocean City, as people gather on 45th Street and beyond to celebrate the music, food and fun of Ireland,” said Jessica Waters, communications manager for the Town of Ocean City.
Every year, the parade grows with at least 105 entries signed up to participate as of Monday.
Participants will travel from Maryland, Delaware, Virginia, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Virginia, for the event.
Seacrets’ Ocean 98 radio station and Jolly Roger Amusement Park will enter floats into the parade, in addition to multiple bars, businesses and organizations.
There will be at least 20 newcomers to the 2016 parade including Bad Monkey, Tony Luke’s, the OC Chamber of Commerce, Frontier Town, Ropewalk and Backshore Brewery, Mann said.
Pipe and drum bands including the Chesapeake Caledonian Pipe Band and the Ocean City Pipe and Drum Band will be performing in the parade along with Stephen Decatur and Sussex Central high school marching bands.
Viewers can watch the parade from bleachers at the 45th Street center or along Coastal Highway between 57th and 45th streets. Arrive before 10:30 a.m. to avoid traffic delays and expect congestion until after 2 p.m.
“The event is a great way to start our spring season in Ocean City with residents and visitors enjoying the outdoors and the ocean of green as floats, motorized units and marching bands fill the streets,” Waters said. “It’s a wonderful event and a fun way to celebrate the St. Patrick’s Day holiday and the spring season for kids and adults.”
New this year, local NBC affiliate, WRDE, will broadcast the parade live on television starting at 11:30 a.m. on March 12. In addition, the parade can be seen several times in the next coming weeks including a St. Patrick’s Day marathon from 9 a.m. until midnight on March 17.
The top marching band, commercial float, non-commercial float, motorized unit, best adult and youth marching unit, special committee award, best overall entry in the parade and judges choice award will take home trophies.
Leading the parade this year are grand marshals Kathleen O’Connell Higgins and Mike Higgins. They moved to Ocean City full-time in 1993 from Washington D.C. While living in Ocean City, they began real estate careers with Mike in sales and Kathleen in office administration. Kathleen moved to sales before retiring and Mike is currently an agent with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage on 104th Street.
They became co-treasurers of the Delmarva Irish-American Club in 2010 and have been members for more than 10 years.
“It was a real honor to be chosen as the parade grand marshals last year, but unfortunately we had to cancel the parade due to a storm,” Mike Higgins said. “We think what makes this special is that we have multiple generations of families participating in the parade as well as lining the parade route to watch. Who doesn’t like to see the kids enjoying a parade as the bands and fire trucks go by?”
All of the proceeds from the parade and festival will go to local high school scholarships and charities.
“The best part of the parade is the high school scholarships we are able to provide local high school seniors, as well as donations to various local charities,” Higgins said.
The Delmarva Irish-American Club, founded in 1980, has awarded about $300,000 in scholarships to local students from parade proceeds. The club now has more than 400 members and is open to anyone who is Irish, Irish at heart or who just appreciates all things Irish.
For more information, visit www.delmarvairish.org or contact Mann at 410-289-6156.
The Delmarva Irish-American Club sponsors the highly anticipated tradition, which will start at noon, March 12, on 57th Street and continue south along Coastal Highway to the 45th Street shopping center where spectators will find a huge party along with the judges’ stand.
“It is the kickoff to the season,” said Buck Mann, parade coordinator. “People who have indoor fever, this is the first big outdoor party. It will be a fun day.”
The Irish festival on 45th Street will begin at 11 a.m. with green beer, Irish entertainment featuring music by Pat O’Brennan, Irish step dancers, face painting, Irish stew, and of course, corned beef sandwiches. The festival will conclude around 3 p.m., although the party will continue all evening in restaurants and bars throughout Ocean City.
“It seems like everyone is Irish on the day of the St. Patrick’s Day parade in Ocean City, as people gather on 45th Street and beyond to celebrate the music, food and fun of Ireland,” said Jessica Waters, communications manager for the Town of Ocean City.
Every year, the parade grows with at least 105 entries signed up to participate as of Monday.
Participants will travel from Maryland, Delaware, Virginia, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Virginia, for the event.
Seacrets’ Ocean 98 radio station and Jolly Roger Amusement Park will enter floats into the parade, in addition to multiple bars, businesses and organizations.
There will be at least 20 newcomers to the 2016 parade including Bad Monkey, Tony Luke’s, the OC Chamber of Commerce, Frontier Town, Ropewalk and Backshore Brewery, Mann said.
Pipe and drum bands including the Chesapeake Caledonian Pipe Band and the Ocean City Pipe and Drum Band will be performing in the parade along with Stephen Decatur and Sussex Central high school marching bands.
Viewers can watch the parade from bleachers at the 45th Street center or along Coastal Highway between 57th and 45th streets. Arrive before 10:30 a.m. to avoid traffic delays and expect congestion until after 2 p.m.
“The event is a great way to start our spring season in Ocean City with residents and visitors enjoying the outdoors and the ocean of green as floats, motorized units and marching bands fill the streets,” Waters said. “It’s a wonderful event and a fun way to celebrate the St. Patrick’s Day holiday and the spring season for kids and adults.”
New this year, local NBC affiliate, WRDE, will broadcast the parade live on television starting at 11:30 a.m. on March 12. In addition, the parade can be seen several times in the next coming weeks including a St. Patrick’s Day marathon from 9 a.m. until midnight on March 17.
The top marching band, commercial float, non-commercial float, motorized unit, best adult and youth marching unit, special committee award, best overall entry in the parade and judges choice award will take home trophies.
Leading the parade this year are grand marshals Kathleen O’Connell Higgins and Mike Higgins. They moved to Ocean City full-time in 1993 from Washington D.C. While living in Ocean City, they began real estate careers with Mike in sales and Kathleen in office administration. Kathleen moved to sales before retiring and Mike is currently an agent with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage on 104th Street.
They became co-treasurers of the Delmarva Irish-American Club in 2010 and have been members for more than 10 years.
“It was a real honor to be chosen as the parade grand marshals last year, but unfortunately we had to cancel the parade due to a storm,” Mike Higgins said. “We think what makes this special is that we have multiple generations of families participating in the parade as well as lining the parade route to watch. Who doesn’t like to see the kids enjoying a parade as the bands and fire trucks go by?”
All of the proceeds from the parade and festival will go to local high school scholarships and charities.
“The best part of the parade is the high school scholarships we are able to provide local high school seniors, as well as donations to various local charities,” Higgins said.
The Delmarva Irish-American Club, founded in 1980, has awarded about $300,000 in scholarships to local students from parade proceeds. The club now has more than 400 members and is open to anyone who is Irish, Irish at heart or who just appreciates all things Irish.
For more information, visit www.delmarvairish.org or contact Mann at 410-289-6156.