The 70th annual West Orange St. Patrick’s Day Parade

Celebrating its 70th year, the St. Patrick’s Day Parade is a one of the most popular traditions in Downtown West Orange and one of the preeminent St. Patrick’s Day events in the Garden State.

Arguably the best and most celebrated of more than 30 St. Patrick’s Day parades taking place throughout the state, the West Orange parade attracts thousands of onlookers and hundreds of marchers, including Irish American organizations, fraternal, community, and school groups.

The parade has a small and understated beginning, when the Irish American Society of the Oranges and the Frank O’Hara Association would march along only half of West Orange’s Main Street, and then catch a bus to join the larger parade in Newark.

It wasn’t until 1974 that the parade size and route were expanded to what they are today. Throughout its history, the St. Patrick’s Day Parade has reflected the role the Irish American community has played in West Orange and the region, and the official Parade Committee includes many children and grand- children of its original founders.

The festivities kick off with the traditional morning mass, which organizers point out is something that makes it unique from other parades. This year, the mass will be at 9 a.m. at Our Lady of the Lake, Pleasant Valley Way in Verona, and will be attended by parade honorees and organizations. Immediately after the service, all will gather in Downtown West Orange, joined by thousands of friends, family, and visitors cheering on parade participants.

The parade steps off at 12:15 p.m. from the corners of Mount Pleasant Avenue and Main Street. The procession will make its way north on Main Street and end at Our Lady of Lourdes Church, 1 Eagle Rock Ave.

This year’s parade honorees include long-time and current West Orange residents Michael “Mike” McCormick, who will serve as the 2023 grand marshal, and Downtown West Orange Alliance (DWOA) Executive Director Meg McNerney Brill, who will serve as one of three deputy marshals.

Born and raised in West Orange,

Grand Marshal Mike McCormick will be honoring the historic lineage of West Orange McCormicks, which stretches back for 135 years, beginning with Mike’s great-grandfather John McCormick immigrating from French Park, County Roscommon in 1888.

John McCormick founded the first police department in West Orange. Mike’s grandfather was also West Orange police officer who upon retirement, worked alongside Thomas Edison. Mike and his wife Karen can always be found supporting and promoting the Irish American community at yearround events in West Orange and throughout the state.

Mike is also the vice president of the Michael T. McCormick, Jr. Memorial Foundation – named after his son, Michael Jr., who was suddenly taken from them on his 19th birthday in 2009. The Foundation has raised hundreds of thousands of scholarship dollars to assist deserving students in the community.

“I am truly honored to serve as Grand Marshal for this commemorative 70th parade,” McCormick said.

Morning Mass

The 2023 Mass will be held on Sunday, March 12 at 9 a.m. at Our Lady of the Lake, Pleasant Valley Way, Verona. Honorees and organizations are requested to assemble at 8:30 a.m. in the front of the church.

Parade Route

The Parade steps-off promptly at 12:15 p.m. from the corners of Mount Pleasant Avenue and Main Street. The Parade route makes its way north on Main Street and ends at Our Lady of Lourdes Church.

Complimentary Shuttle Buses

Complimentary shuttle buses are provided to transport marchers and spectators to the starting location of the parade at Town Hall. The buses begin boarding at 10:30 a.m. on Mississippi Avenue adjacent to Our Lady of Lourdes Church. Buses will stop promptly at 11:45 a.m. Parking is available but limited at Quigley's Parking Lot next to Mississippi Avenue and the surrounding streets.