A Little Rain on Our Parade
Shamrocks wouldn’t grow without a little rain. Despite the drops, the 49th Annual Queens County St. Patrick’s Day Parade marched on through Rockaway’s roads on Saturday, March 2.
Saturday felt like a rainy day in Ireland but Irish eyes were still smiling through ponchos and umbrellas. The parade kicked off on Beach 130th and Newport Avenue with a singing of the Irish and American National Anthems, before the parade honorees, including Grand Marshal Richard Tully, Jr., the owner and principal of Interstate Mechanical Services, parade president Michael Benn and even Mayor Eric Adams, cut the ribbon to start the parade.
From bagpipe groups to Irish dancers, schools to fire departments, there was representation from all across the peninsula, New York and even Ireland, while locals lined the streets to cheer everyone on before heading indoors to fun music events and more. Due to the weather, the parade was a bit shorter as some groups decided to sit this one out, and others marched halfway, like Mayor Adams, but not before sharing a shot with some spectators. Others made the best of the rain, like the Lynbrook Volunteer Fire Department, which marched with their own tent covering them along the parade route.
Congratulations to the parade committee on yet another successful parade. Here’s to some sunshine on the 50th annual parade in 2025!
Photos by Dan Guarino, Katie McFadden, Paul Richter and Nicole Taylor-Lang.
