St. Patrick's Day 2015 Events

Break out the green, Essex County… St. Patrick’s Day weekend is right around the corner.

This year, several local organizations and municipalities are hosting their own St. Patrick’s Day events. If you’re planning on getting out this weekend to celebrate, try one (or all) of these great local events:

NEWARK

The City of Newark will host its 80th annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Friday, March 13, from 1 to 2:30 p.m.

More than 60 Irish-American fraternal, civic, social and athletic organizations will take to the streets in the area of Mulberry and Lafayette streets celebrate their Irish Heritage, according to a release. Additional guests include Irish Pipe Bands from around the state, and The Castlerea Brass & Reed Band of County Roscommon, Ireland.

The parade will commence on Mulberry Street outside the Prudential Center, making its way past the Gateway Complex, to the New Jersey Performing Arts Center, passing Military Park on Center Street, to Central Avenue leading up to St. Patrick’s Pro-Cathedral and ending in front of the Newark Museum and Washington Park.

This year’s celebration will also feature Grand Marshall Rosemarie L. Mellody of Montclair, the first female grand marshal in the parade’s history.

MONTCLAIR

Several local pubs and venues will host events, including:

· Saturday, March 14, 2 to 6 p.m.: Egan & Sons, 118 Walnut St.; Irish fair and spirits/beer, Dublin Rebels, Heritage Irish Dancers, Random Test Reggae, Bagpipes

· Tuesday, March 17, all day: Tierney’s Tavern, 136-138 Valley Road; “250 lbs of corned beef, sandwiches and platters, tons of Guinness”

· Sunday, March 15, 2 p.m.: Historian Mary Catherine Moran presents “From Ireland to New Jersey and Back Again: Tracing Your Irish Roots,” at the Montclair Historical Society, 108 Orange Road. Suggested donation $5.

NUTLEY

The 37th St.Patrick’s Day Parade will be held on Franklin Avenue on Saturday, March 7, at 1 p.m. [See related article]

According to a release, the parade will begin with an Investiture Mass at St. Mary’s Church at 10 a.m. Parade lineup will begin at noon at the Holy Family Parking Lot, and Parade Step Off will begin promptly at 1 p.m.

WEST ORANGE

The 64th West Orange St. Patrick’s Day Parade is scheduled for Sunday, March 15, with Step-Off at 12:15 p.m., at Main Street and Mt. Pleasant Avenue. There will be a Morning Mass at 9 a.m., at Our Lady of Valley Church in Orange.

This year’s grand marshal is John “Jack” Sayers, and deputy grand marshals include Phylis O’Keeffe, Tom Malkinski, Bill Kehoe and Jim Williams.

The West Orange Police Department is reporting that several roads will be closed on Sunday, March 15. [See related article]

CEDAR GROVE

Students of the Marie Moore School of Irish Dance will perform on Thursday, March 12 at 7 p.m., at the Cedar Grove Library, 1 Municipal Plaza. Light refreshments will be served.

VERONA

Sunday, March 15, 3 p.m.: Irish balladeer Richard Stillman will perform at the Verona Public Library, 17 Gould St. Stillman will lead a musical trip to the Emerald Isle with bagpipes, stories, jigs and reels, using authentic Irish instruments and traditional Irish dances. Contact the library for more information at 973-857-4848.

Saturday, March 15: The Verona Inn, 624 Bloomfield Ave. will throw its annual St. Patrick’s celebration, featuring Irish dancers, live music from the Kill Van Kelts Irish band, traditional fare and shot girls.

CALDWELL

On Thursday, March 12, the Cloverleaf Tavern, 395 Bloomfield Ave., Caldwell, will host a St. Patrick’s Day celebration featuring green beer, Irish food specials (Corned Beef, Cottage Pie, Irish Stew and Irish Soda Bread), and live entertainment from Don Smith and Ed Packer on Sunday from 4 pm to 9 pm, Monday from 6 pm to 10 pm and Tuesday from noon to midnight.

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