Grand Marshal For 2023 Morris County St. Patrick’s Parade Named

MORRIS COUNTY, NJ — It's never too early to get excited about one of the county's most anticipated events, the Morris County St. Patrick's Day Parade.

Ryan Dawson, a Mendham resident, has been named Grand Marshal of the 2023 Morris County St. Patrick's Day Parade by the Morris County St. Patrick's Day Parade Committee.

"Ryan has been an integral member of the parade committee and the finance committee assisting in raising money for the parade as Finance Committee Chairman," said Mike Leavy, Publicity Coordinator, St. Patrick’s Parade Committee Morris County.

Dawson, who lives in Mendham with his wife Melinda, is a member and former president of the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick of Morris County. Dawson also currently works as a realtor for Weichert Realtors in Morristown, Leavy said.

The Morris County St. Patrick's Day Parade has been a long-cherished tradition for all residents, dating back to the winter of 1779-1780 in Jockey Hollow, Morristown.

The parade is entirely self-funded, with no public funds used for parade expenses. It is entirely funded by generous donations from corporate and individual sponsors, so there is no public money involved and no cost to taxpayers, officials said.

Apart from the COVID-19 pandemic, the event has been held "rain or shine," unless extreme weather conditions made it unsafe, according to its website, which it hopes to maintain this year. Prior to 2019, the parade had only been postponed twice due to weather, once due to a snow emergency in 1993 and once due to severe weather conditions in 2010.

"The parade organization takes great pride in having provided a safe fun-filled day for Morris County residents and their families to enjoy each spring at no cost to Morristown for 36 years, and look to continue to do so in the future," officials said.