Seaside Goes Green for Parade Day

The hint of spring, the music in the air, the smiling eyes and green everywhere.

Perhaps the local Irish band the Snakes said it best: "I've wandered all over, I'm not going to stray anymore because I love St. Patrick's Day on the Jersey Shore."

And here we go: Seaside Heights is preparing for Ocean County's 27th Annual St. Patrick's Day parade on Saturday.

Thousands of families are expected to line the Boulevard and watch pipe and drums, mummers, marchers and more.

The parade begins at noon on the Boulevard in Seaside, and is expected to run for about an hour and a half. The route is to begin at the Seaside Park border, and end north at Sampson Avenue (stretching one and a quarter mile long).

Parade organizer John Sweeney of Lavallette says the parade's running time is a top priority. "It's important to us that we keep the parade under two-hours. We pack a great parade with a lot of entertainment," he said in a telephone interview. "After 2 p.m. you cannot trust the March winds, and we want everyone to have time to get out and enjoy the boardwalk afterward too."

The day kicks off with a traditional Irish Mass at Our Lady of Perpetual Help on the Boulevard and Grant Ave at 10 a.m.

Sweeney says that this year's parade will see a 10 percent increase in participation. It will feature 23 bands coming from as far away as Philadelphia and Somerset County, NJ.

For many, the parade is the beginning of the spring season at the Shore.

"It's a great way to spend a day at the Jersey Shore. Not only is the parade Ocean County’s centerpiece for Irish celebration, it’s the event that signals the start of spring and the summer tourism season. The event provides a great opportunity for spectators to make arrangements for their summer vacation accommodations as well," Ocean County Freeholder Director and Tourism Liaison, Joe Vicari, said in a prepared statement.

A family atmosphere is important to the parade's organization. "We've kept it a family function for all these years. It's great to march the route and see moms and dads with their kids. I always see grandparents too with the family. We haven't had one single bad incident that has been associated with the parade in 27-years," Sweeney said.

This year's parade will be traditional and is dedicated to St. Patrick himself.

The parade's PR Director, Bernard Viggiani, says the atmosphere is like no other. "Anything and everything is Irish in that parade. You have to be there to believe it," he wrote in an email.

Vicari agrees. “It’s impressive to see Seaside Heights and Seaside Park cooperating for years to bring joy to so many people with a parade that has been ranked in the top 200 events in the nation.”

According to Seaside Heights Business Improvement Executive Director, Maria Maruca, the only tip is to arrive early. “There will be plenty of parking, but get here early to avoid delays. There are a lot of places to have breakfast, lunch, and dinner. There are places to stay and things to do and, weather permitting, a lot of the boardwalk attractions are even open," she said in a statement.

Sweeney's biggest fear every year is the weather, but he says he's relieved to see Saturday's forecast. The National Weather Service is predicting a mostly sunny day with temperatures around 50 degrees in the afternoon.

As for the committee, they will be celebrating the holiday with an authentic corned beef and cabbage dinner after the parade.