STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- This year’s St. Patrick’s Parade, unfolding on Sunday, March 2, along Forest Avenue in the heart of West Brighton, promises to be the biggest ever.

The borough’s 60th annual celebration of Irish heritage has always been Staten Island’s largest community event. For the first time, the Richmond County St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee, under new leadership, has invited the Pride Center of Staten Island to march under their own banner.

“We’re happy to have the Pride Center marching with us,” said Edward Patterson, the new chairman of the parade committee. “Our focus remains on St. Patrick and the culture, traditions, history, and faith of the Irish people. We’re proud to have the Pride Center because they are part of the community.”

Since the news of the Pride Center’s inclusion spread in November, there has been increased interest from groups across Staten Island and beyond to participate in this year’s parade. In fact, the parade committee reports over 80 groups -- from NYPD, FDNY and public high school marching bands to Miss Staten Island and Miss Rosemary’s Dance School -- have signed up to be part of the parade. This represents an increase of about 30 groups from last year’s parade, according to the committee.

Some groups marching for the first time, according to the parade committee, include: The New York State Nurses Association, Richmond County Nurses Association, The College of Staten Island, Wagner College Marching Band, New York City Mountain Bike Association, Staten Island Hiking Meetup, and the United States Park Police Mounted Unit.

Honorees

This year’s grand marshal will be Noreen Hansen. The Ancient Order of Hibernians (AOH) Division 4 aide to the grand marshal is Brian Walsh, and the Richmond County aide to the New York City Saint Patrick’s Day Parade grand marshal is Warren Coffey.

Representing the Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians (LAOH), Division 2 will be Diane Gruberger; LAOH, Division 4, Barbara Shields; and LAOH, Division 10, Cynthia Donnelly, vice president of the parade committee.

And this year’s Miss Hibernia is Mave Sheehan.

New this year is an honor bestowed on a business person in the West Brighton Community, which will be Jack LiGreci, owner of LiGreci’s Staaten.

“Our grand marshal must be a member of the Hibernians, according to our bylaws,” said Patterson. “This year, we wanted to honor a business person who has been supportive of the parade, and Jack is the perfect choice. He’s the king of West Brighton.”

The Route

The parade will kick off at 12:30 p.m. at Forest Avenue and Hart Boulevard and proceed along Forest Avenue to Jewett Avenue, at which time floats will proceed down Jewett Avenue toward Port Richmond, while cars will depart on Jewett toward Egbert Avenue. Marchers will exit the parade route on Jewett Avenue toward the Staten Island Expressway.

The reviewing stand will be set up on Forest Avenue, between Clove and Manor roads on the side of the park, according to the parade committee.

The Pride Center ‘excited’ to march

The Pride Center will march the parade route for the first time, and Carol Bullock, executive director of the Pride Center, said she couldn’t be more happy.

“We are excited,” she said. “I think about people like Jim Smith [known as Staten Island’s ‘father of gay pride,’ who died in 2020], who came way before me, and I wish he was here. It’s really going to be great.”

Political Breakfast

The traditional Jerome O’Donovan Pre-Parade Breakfast will take place on Sunday at Jody’s Club Forest at 11 a.m.

“As a proud Irish American and Staten Islander, the St. Patrick’s Day Parade and our annual Jerome O’Donovan Pre-Parade Breakfast are incredibly near and dear to my heart,” said District Attorney Michael McMahon, one of the breakfast organizers.

“It is with great pride and joy that we look forward to this Sunday’s festivities, recognize the tireless efforts it took to reach this monumental day, and celebrate the future of Staten Island marching together as one borough. The Staten Island St. Patrick’s Day Parade allowing LGBTQIA+ groups to march is an important win for Staten Islanders of all identities, and we are ecstatic that this day will represent a united Staten Island moving forward,” he added.

Forest Avenue Mile Run

Traditionally, the Forest Avenue Mile Run -- organized by the Staten Island Athletic Club -- has been held prior to the parade, and will unfold this year on Forest Avenue at 11 a.m. Having been unofficially dubbed “the Rainbow Run,” in years past -- initially due to the Pride Center’s past exclusion -- that tradition will continue this year, according to KC Hankins, organizer of the Rainbow Run and a Pride Center volunteer.

“This year, many of us are going to be running in that run again, making sure that we are still seen as LGBTQ Islanders,” said Hankins. “And this year will be a little bit more of a celebration that we’re allowed to march in the parade. So we’ll be running down the parade route, and then we’ll be turning around and running back up to be able to march in the parade.”

Raffle tickets

The parade committee will be holding a raffle, with a grand prize of $10,000; the proceeds will benefit the parade.