Greenwich's Annual St. Patrick's Parade Is Sunday

The 38th annual Greenwich Hibernian Association St. Patrick’s Parade will take place Sunday, March 25 staring at 2 p.m., led by Grand Marshal and Greenwich Chief of Police James Heavey.

Motorists should avoid the area leading to and around the route of the  parade that starts at Greenwich Town.

Greenwich Police Sgt. John Slusarz, a cousin of Chief Heavey, will blow the whistle to start the parade. From town hall, the parade will proceed north, up Field Point Road to the West Putnam Avenue, up West Putnam to Greenwich Avenue and then down Greenwich Avenue to the Island Beach parking lot.

The following band’s will march in the parade: Greenwich Pipe Band; The Pipes and Drums of the Firefighters Emerald Society of Westchester; Westchester and District Pipe Band; The Pipes and Drums of the Police Emerald Society of Westchester, Fairfield Gaelic Pipe Band; Spirit of Blackrock Fife & Drum; Westchester Brassmen; Tarrytown VFW Drum Corps; Tappan Zee Bridgemen; Greenwich High School Marching Band; Port Chester High School Marching Band and the Trumbull High School Marching Band.

Serving as Chief Heavey’s aides will be his parents Bart and Debbie Heavey; his wife, Kia and their children Anna and Jamie.

Among the past Grand Marshals scheduled to march as a group are Kevin Conboy; Anna Cordon; Denis Curran; Jim Dougherty; Jeanne Farrell; John Halpin; John Kavanagh;  Frank Kelly; Jim Larkin; Noel McGovern; Sister Cecilia Moloughney and Patrick Waide.

All three Greenwich Selectmen, Peter Tesei, David Theis and Drew Marzullo, will march as will State Representatives Livvy Floren and Fred Camillo. Congressman Jim Himes of Cos Cob also is expected to join the local politicians. Peter Ryan, Deputy Consul General of Ireland to the United States will represent the Irish Government.

Many local organizations, school groups, sports teams and police and firefighter companies will march, some with floats created for the parade.

According to Greenwich police, parking restrictions will begin at 10 a.m. Sunday, March 25.  There will be no parking on the east side of Greenwich Avenue from West Putnam Avenue to Steamboat Road. In addition there will be no parking on the West side of Greenwich Avenue from Grigg Street Railroad Avenue. Also, there will be no parking on either side of Steamboat Road from Railroad Avenue to Arch Street.  Parking restrictions will be strictly enforced and towing of improperly parked vehicles will commence at 10 a.m. Sunday. In addition, Dayton Avenue will be closed at approximately noon to facilitate the lining up of the parade elements.

Road closures will occur throughout the downtown area beginning at approximately 1:30 p.m. in preparation for the parade elements to line up. Detour signs and police officers will be deployed to direct the traffic detour. US Route #1 will be closed for the parade from Dearfield to Lafayette Place from 1:45 p.m. until approximately 3:30 p.m. Roads will be reopened as soon as the parade passes and it is determined to be safe to do so