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. For some of the Parade committee members the commitment lies in the memory of an awestruck child, watching the marching bands or military units, or marching as a child. For some it is the pride of Irish immigrants and their ancestors celebrating their life of opportunity in the United States. Life, and the economy, has changed dramatically since the inception of the Parade, although the City of New Haven helps defray the expense of putting on the Parade, the Greater New Haven St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee volunteers year round to raise the funds to keep the Parade an ongoing event. Funds are raised through $2.00 Parade button sales, fundraisers held at the Irish clubs of Greater New Haven and local restaurants and bars, and through the generous support of individuals and businesses.