ST. PATRICK'S DAY PARADE
GREATER NEW HAVEN, CT
183rd ANNUAL EVENT:
MARCH 16, 2025
THE PARADE
Céad Míle Fáilte -- A Hundred Thousand Welcomes -- from the Greater New Haven St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee. The St. Patrick’s Day Parade tradition was born in New Haven on March 17, 1842, when about 90 members of the Hibernian Provident Society, a mutual aid organization formed the previous year, marched through the city streets behind a banner made especially for the occasion.
Lovingly sewn into the banner were traditional Irish depictions: St. Patrick in his bishop’s robes, an Irish wolfhound, a harp, shamrocks, and a portrait of Gen. Richard Montgomery, the Irish-born hero of the American Revolution. As Joan Moynihan and Neil Hogan, authors of “Images of America: New Haven St. Patrick’s Day Parade” explained, the banner had two mottos which bespoke the dual loyalties of the marchers: “e pluribus unum” ("out of many, one") and “Erin go bragh”.
THE HISTORY
Since the mid-1950’s the St. Patrick’s Day Parade of Greater New Haven has become one of New England’s premier Irish events. It is the largest, single-day spectator event in the State of Connecticut. As the 6th oldest parade in the nation, its fame was recognized by the Library of Congress in 1999. This keepsake of New Haven’s Irish community became a national keepsake when the Library of Congress selected the Greater New Haven St. Patrick’s Day Parade as an outstanding example of American folk life. (Moynihan and Hogan)
Thank you to all who participate, attend and support the Greater New Haven St. Patrick’s Day Parade. We are looking forward to the 2024 parade which will take place on Sunday, March 10, 2024. We are very proud of this great tradition and we invite you to enjoy the information and history of our great parade in the pages of this web site!
FAMILY FUN ZONE
The Family Fun Zone is presented in partnership with the Greater New Haven St. Patrick’s Day Parade and the Town Green District and their ambassadors. Free family friendly entertainment is offered along with activities that will involve children of all ages! The NH Town Green Ambassadors will monitor the FFZ area while you enjoy food from the food trucks located conveniently on Elm St. We also offer family friendly bathrooms with a changing table, tables & chairs, and a Stroller Viewing Zone at Church Street.
© 2024 Associated Irish Societies, Inc.