2026 PARADE AWARD WINNERS
The 2026 Parade Award Winners were selected by an independent panel of judges. Each winning marching unit will be recognized and receive a plaque in their name at the Annual Parade Awards Ceremony which is held each Spring by one of the four Associated Irish Societies.
AWARD |
WINNER |
| 2026 Honor Attendant | Meghan Waterfield |
| 2026 Parade Queen | Caroline Pfaff |
| Grand Marshal Award | Elm City Party Bike |
| Tom Slater Spirit of the Parade Award | Rum Runners |
| Best Band Unit | Wholly Brass Band |
| Best Charitable/Non-Profit Organization | Surfside Veterans |
| Best Drill Team | Infamous Fusion Drill Team & Drum Squad |
| Best Drum & Bugle | CT Hurricanes Drum and Bugle Corps |
| Best Emerald Society | City of New Haven Firefighters Emerald Society |
| Best Entertainment | The Dancing Dinos of County UConn |
| Best Exhibition | Best Friends and Fun (BFF) Events |
| Best Fife & Drum | Connecticut Patriots Fire and Drum Corps |
| Best Fire Apparatus | 1963 Seagrave Pump Fire Engine with NHFD Retirees |
| Best Float |
The Royal Pizza Float
|
| Best Fraternal Organization | Connecticut Freemasons |
| Best High School Marching Band 1st Place |
West Haven High School Marching Blue Devils |
| Best Irish Dance Unit | Brennan-Lucey Irish Dance Academy |
| Best Irish Marching Unit 1st Place |
West Haven American Irish Community |
| Best Irish Marching Unit 2nd Place |
New Haven Gaelic Football & Hurling Club / IACC |
| Best Junior Military Unit | James Hillhouse ROTC |
| Best Media | WTNH |
| Best Military Unit | New Haven Veterans |
| Best Musical Group / Soloist 1st Place |
Rock House School of Music |
| Best Musical Group / Soloist 2nd Place |
JoeTown |
| Best Novelty | Mountain View Clydesdales |
| Best Overall Unit | US Navy Band |
| Best Pipe & Drum 1st Place |
Celtic Cross Pipes and Drums |
| Best Honor Guard 1st Place |
Connecticut State Police Honor Guard |
| Best Honor Guard 2nd Place |
CT Department of Correction Honor Guard |
| Best Police Marching Unit | New Haven Honor Guard |
| Best Professional Fire Department | East Haven Fire Department Local 1205 |
| Best Volunteer Fire Department | M.P. Rice Hose Company #2 |
| Best Radio | 99.1 PLR |
| Youth Group - 1st Place | New Haven Police Activity League |
| Youth Group - 2nd Place | Wilbur Cross High School Marching Governors |
| Best Adult Sports Unit | Southern New England Friendship Softball League |
| Best Business or Entity Unit | Rambling Inn |
| Best First Responder Unit | Connecticut Firefighter Pipes and Drums |
| Best Reenactment | The Knights of Gore |
| Best New Unit | Mighty Marching Blue Machine |
| WTNH Peoples' Choice Marching Unit | West Haven High School Marching Band |
DONATE
The Associated Irish Societies is an IRS recognized non-profit with 501(c) (3) status. All donations are tax-deductible. Donations are payable to the Associated Irish Societies.
ABOUT
The Greater New Haven St. Patrick’s Day Parade is Connecticut’s largest single day spectator event attracting more than 325,000 people to the streets New Haven each year. The Parade is a longstanding tradition in the New Haven community, and the members of the Greater New Haven St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee volunteer to ensure the tradition continues.
© 2026 Associated Irish Societies, Inc.